Dickinson Takes Controlling Race 1 Win at Sebring

Photo: Jessica Johnk/Porsche

Riley Dickinson picked up where he left off in Porsche Carrera Cup North America competition, with the Texan returning to victory lane.

Dickinson, the 2023 Pro champion who took a year off in the single-make series, claimed a flag-to-flag victory in Thursday’s opening race of the season at Sebring International Raceway, holding off an early challenge from Ryan Yardley before driving to a 5.623-second victory over the Kiwi.

Dickinson led every lap of the 45-minute contest on the Florida airfield circuit, which ran into the early evening.

Matheus Leist got around the No. 9 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car of Zachary Vanier and appeared to be en route to the final podium position before he slowed on the final lap, finishing ninth.

It promoted ACI Motorsports’ Jimmy Llibre to third, ahead of Michael de Quesada and series debutant Aaron Jeansonne, who completed the top-five.

Vanier faded to sixth, ahead of Yves Baltas and Mustang Challenge graduate Tyler Maxson in his Topp Racing machine.

Pro-Am class honors went to Juan Pablo Martinez of ACI, who edged out reigning category champion Alan Metni by a mere 0.037 seconds for the win.

Scott Blind, meanwhile, claimed top honors in Masters in his Ruckus Racing Porsche.

The race ran caution-free although had several incidents.

It included one for Wesley Slimp, who was assessed a drive-through penalty for incident responsibility for contact with the No. 23 Nolasport Porsche of Michael Auriemma in Turn 7.

Slimp later retired from the race in the 31-car starting field, while Madeline Stewart did not start Race 1 after accident damage from qualifying.

Race 2 of the event gets underway Friday at 6:15 p.m. EST with live coverage on Peacock, IMSA’s YouTube channel and PorscheCarreraCup.us.

RESULTS: Race 1

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