ACI Finalizes Two-Car Carrera Cup Effort

Photo: ACI Motorsports

ACI Motorsports will continue its presence in Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America this year with a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars for Grant Talkie and Marco Cirone.

Talkie returns to the Curt Swearingin-owned team after contesting the majority of the single-make series last year, with Cirone taking his Mark Motors Racing program into the ACI operation.

“I have been counting down the days since the end of the 2022 season,” said Talkie, who will compete in the Pro class.

“With a strong few days of testing, new teammate, and new car, it was great to hit the ground running with a fast car at my favorite track.

“We are looking forward to all of the great venues this year, and looking more forward to the memories that will be made with fellow competitors and team members.”

While Talkie won the 2021 Porsche Sprint Challenge Gold class championship, Cirone holds the record for most wins in the Masters class of the series. The Canadian driver will contest the Pro-Am class.

“I am so excited to begin the season with ACI Motorsports,” Cirone said. “Our newly formed partnership has been working out very well so far.

“We believe that combining our experience and knowledge together will make us very competitive in Carrera Cup.

“All of us at Mark Motors are proud to join ACI racing and cannot wait for that first green flag to wave!”

Team owner and principal Swearingin, meanwhile, will not continue as a driver in Carrera Cup, following the news of his move into Pirelli GT4 America with the team’s newly expanded effort in SRO America.

“We’ve been preparing intentionally to put us in a position to compete this year,” said Swearingin.

“I really think we have some pace this year and we definitely want to put it to good use. There’s nothing in our way except ourselves, and that’s what we’re always trying to focus on – get out of our own way and go win some races.”

“Obviously the competition is steep and we have great respect for the other teams on the grid but the only thing we can control is ourselves and we’re going to do the best we can to do just that.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John