Dickinson Aiming to Pick Up Where ACI “Left Off” Last Year

Photo: Jessica Johnk/Porsche

Riley Dickinson is aiming to pick up where ACI Motorsports “left off” last year following the team’s Pro-Am class championship in Pirelli GT4 America.

The Porsche Motorsport North America selected driver has joined the Chattanooga-based team for this year’s title quest, taking over Kay van Berlo’s seat alongside team owner/driver Curt Swearingin in the No. 7 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

It comes as part of an expanded two-car effort for the team, which sees reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion Loek Hartog team up with Dan Sibille in the sister Porsche.

“It’s been great,” Dickinson told Sportscar365. “We’ve done a couple of tests with Curt and the team, just getting familiar with the team, how they go through the systems, the information flow and whatnot.

“It’s already been a really good program with them and I’m super excited to be in Sonoma and see what we’ve got.”

Dickinson, who has also made his return to Carrera Cup competition this year, remains racing the Cayman GT4 platform but moves over from IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition, where he earned two wins last year with Kellymoss with Riley.

“Going from Michelin Pilot to the SRO GT4 America program is very, very similar in a lot of respects,” he said.

“The tire, of course, is different, but at the end of the day it’s still the Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport from Porsche and it still has the same characteristics.

“It still has the same type of driver drivability.

“Jumping between the two, it really wasn’t that big of a learning curve. Just understanding the Pirelli tire, the different characteristics between the tires, and adapting the best I can do it.

“I think it’s going to be a really good program. They’ve done a lot of good work over the years. They had Kay van Berlo in the car the last year-and-a-half or so, and have done a lot of development work with the car.

“For me, it’s been fun to talk with Kay and tell him, ‘Thank you’ for developing that car for me!

“They’re in a really good spot. I think we’ll have a really good chance at progressing with where they’ve left off last year.”

Van Berlo and Swearingin picked up the Pro-Am class title last year.

“It’s a good place to start from,” Dickinson said. “As we’ve seen, there’s a capacity grid now, so it’s going to be a good fight. I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be a great championship season. There’s a couple of tracks for me that I haven’t driven the GT4 on, such as Sonoma and Barber Motorsports Park.”

Dickinson admitted that he will have to adapt to the largely 60-minute race format of GT4 America, compared to the more endurance race nature of Pilot Challenge.

“It is different,” he said. “We have the one three-hour at COTA, which will be more similar to what I was used to last year in Pilot.

“But, it’s definitely a bit of a different cadence. A full stint for me, at Sebring, for example, in the GT4 America is only 12 laps.

“That’s a bit different, almost more like Carrera Cup, more sprint-based. It’s definitely a little bit of an adjustment and a little bit different of a driving style.

“You’re not necessarily having to save your tires and brakes as much. Certainly there is no fuel saving if everything goes well.

“It’s a little bit of an adjustment, but at the end of the day, it’s good, fun racing and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

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