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| Patrick Long | |
|---|---|
| Name | Patrick Long |
| Birth date | 28 June 1981 |
| Birth place | Denver, Colorado |
| Nationality | American |
| Teams | Porsche |
Patrick Long is an American professional racing driver best known for a long association with Porsche as a factory driver and for multiple victories in North American sports car competition. He has competed in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and has driven for teams including Falken Tire, Flying Lizard Motorsports, and Porsche North America. Long's career bridges factory roles, sports car championships, and appearances in media and instructional programs.
Long was born in Denver, Colorado and grew up in an environment with close ties to motorsport through family and regional racing communities. He began karting at a young age, progressing through junior categories that included events in the United States and occasional international competitions. While completing secondary schooling, Long balanced formal education with burgeoning racing commitments that brought him into contact with teams and manufacturers such as Porsche, Lamborghini, and Audi development programs.
Long's early professional outings were in American club and single-make series that served as feeders to major sports car championships. He contested races in series organized by the Sports Car Club of America and the Grand-Am sanctioning body, and he recorded podiums in marquee endurance events that showcased his consistency. Exposure in series like the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series led to invitations from factory programs and established endurance teams including Alex Job Racing and Team Seattle.
Long's adaptability across prototypes and GT machinery marked him as a versatile competitor. He campaigned GT cars in classes such as GT2 and GTLM against manufacturers including Ferrari, BMW, and Ford, and forged a reputation for wet-weather skill, tire management, and team communication during long stints at circuits like Laguna Seca Raceway, Road Atlanta, and Sebring International Raceway.
Long's relationship with Porsche evolved into an official factory driver role, where he represented the marque in global endurance events and in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. As a factory driver he contributed to development programs, homologation testing, and customer team support while piloting the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and other Porsche GT machinery. His tenure included overall class victories and championship campaigns with teams such as Porsche North America and Falken Motorsports.
At the 24 Hours of Daytona, Long captured class wins and strong overall finishes driving Porsche-backed entries, often collaborating with co-drivers from the Porsche driver roster and customer teams. In the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, he secured podium results against factory efforts from Dodge, Chevrolet, and Acura. Long's contributions to IMSA championship efforts involved detailed feedback to engineers on aerodynamics, suspension, and tire performance, and he participated in multi-year development cycles for GT platforms that raced at Le Mans and other endurance classics.
Beyond Porsche factory duties, Long raced in diverse series that included the 24 Hours of Le Mans with privateer and factory-supported entries, the Nitro Circus‑associated exhibition appearances, and select rounds of international GT championships. He achieved class victories and pole positions in events sanctioned by FIA and SRO Motorsports Group events, and he contested rounds of the Blancpain Endurance Series alongside professional and gentleman drivers.
Long also tested and raced prototype machinery in invitational and endurance races, collaborating with engineering teams on chassis setup for entries in the European Le Mans Series and transcontinental endurance challenges. Notable teammates over the years have included drivers with experience at Formula One, IndyCar Series, and NASCAR levels, reflecting the crossover appeal of endurance racing.
Off-track, Long has appeared in automotive media, instructional programs, and brand marketing tied to manufacturers and sponsors. He has been featured in interviews, driver coaching clinics, and broadcast commentary for endurance events covered by networks with rights to the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championship programs. Long has provided driver coaching to amateur and semi-professional racers, leveraging experience from partnerships with organizations such as Porsche Motorsport Americas and independent driver development schools.
Long's personal interests outside racing include automotive restoration projects tied to marques such as Porsche and participation in charity events connected to motorsport communities across the United States and internationally. He has balanced family life with a professional schedule that includes international travel to events like Le Mans and endurance series rounds in Europe and Asia.
During his career Long has earned recognition through race wins, championship points finishes, and awards from sanctioning bodies and manufacturers. Honors include class victories in endurance classics such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, selection as a Porsche factory driver, and competitive results in IMSA championships. Long's achievements have been celebrated by automotive publications and motorsport organizations that track endurance racing milestones and driver contributions to manufacturer programs.
Category:American racing drivers Category:Sportspeople from Denver Category:1981 births Category:Living people