ROSAMOND >> It was serious business on the Willow Springs International Raceway on Saturday for celebrities like Alfonso Ribeiro, “Terminator 2” actor Robert Patrick and “Battlestar Galactica” star Tricia Helfer.

They were among the many celebrities zipping around a twisty track during practice for the upcoming Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race.

As he hit speeds of more than 100 mph on the straightaways, Ribeiro, who is racing in the Pro-Division on April 18 as part of the 41st annual race, seemed to be one of the drivers to beat during practice, despite a dusty spin-out.

“I’m trying new things to see what works and what doesn’t. I’m trying to test the limits and this is the place to do it and then you bring it back to Long Beach where you got walls,” he said shortly after taking a turn too fast in his red 210-horsepower modified Scion FR-S car.

The tight turn caused him to spin out onto the dirt, raising a heavy cloud of dust that was quickly pierced through by Patrick and Helfer, who were right on his tail on the approximately 1.5-mile practice course.

This is the fourth time competing in the race for the former “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” actor who won the Pro/Celebrity race twice in 1994 and 1995.

This year he is again competing in the Pro-Division as one of one of 18 total participants from television, film, music, sports and fashion taking place in the always popular 10-lap Pro/Celebrity Race at the Grand Prix, the city’s biggest event which is expected to bring more than 170,000 spectators to Long Beach on April 17-19.

The weekend features seven total races including the celebrity race, the KMC Wheels Super Drift Challenge Friday and Saturday evenings and the main event, the IndyCar Series on Sunday where turbocharged cars will race at speeds of up to 185 mph through city streets.

Celebrity division racers this year include actors like Helfer, who raced last year; Nathan Kress, who appeared on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly;” Mekhi Phifer, who stars in the recently released film “Insurgent;” Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik and Patrick, who was sporting the Terminator look in dark aviator glasses and racing helmet.

Patrick, a first time racer, wasn’t too happy after Kress passed him on the track during practice.

“Did you pass me?’ he asked Kress shortly after the first round of practice laps in the desert raceway.

“I did,” the young Nickelodeon actor quickly answered back.

“How did you do it? What’s the secret? What did I do wrong?” Patrick asked Kress before jokingly declaring that it wasn’t going to happen again.

“I’m so grateful, I love being here, it’s addicting and I love going fast,” Patrick said. “My goal for the race is to finish and not take myself out of the race because of my ego or machismo,” he added.

The Pro-Division this year includes actors like Brett Davern, the celebrity winner last year; Dara Torres, a 12-time Olympic medal winner and the first female celebrity to win the Pro/Celebrity race in 2002; “Top Gear USA,” co-host Rutledge Wood, who was the celebrity winner in 2013 and Ribeiro among others.

“It’s going to be a pretty competitive race,” said Chris Esslinger director of communications for the Grand Prix.

“They’re all looking pretty skilled. There are some folks in the field that have been in it before so they know what they’re doing and some rookies out there so it’s a good mix of talent out there in terms of the racing,” he added.

With more experience under her belt now, Helfer could be another racer capable of taking the checkered flag in Long Beach.

“You come back with a basic understanding as opposed to the first year when it’s all brand spanking new,” she said as she stood by her car decked out in a black and gray racing suit after a few laps around the track.

“I felt pretty comfortable out there, so much of it is mental,” she said. “The goal is to finish the race and have fun but it’s also a race.”

Phifer, a first time Grand Prix racer, said this was right up his alley because he has a always has a “need for speed.”

“I feel good behind the wheel. I’m having a good time with it,” he said after taking a few laps and hitting speeds of more than 100 mph.

“I want to win, really. But really the goal is not to, you know we have ten laps at the Long Beach Grand Prix so really I just want to get past the finish line. I don’t want to wreck, I don’t want to crash into anybody.”

Meanwhile Rzeznik, who doesn’t normally drive a stick shift car like the Scions, was having a little more trouble around the track.

“I have never raced a car before and there are certain basic concepts which are still eluding me. I got lapped, I spun out about five times, blew the clutch out of the car, so it’s been a very humbling and educational few days,” he said with a laugh.

“There’s some serious drivers out there and what amazes me is that there are people who just so naturally take to it and understand exactly what’s going on. It’s exciting to watch. My goal is not to wreck and to finish,” Rzeznik said.