Flying Lizard Motorsports program manager Darren Law says the team’s return to the Porsche fold was “The natural way to go” as it gears up for an ambitious Pirelli GT4 America Campaign.
The California-based team is set to fight for both the Sprint and SprintX titles with drivers Robby Foley and Michael Dinan in a brand-new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.
That pairing made a single appearance last year at Utah Motorsports Campus, and Law said that outing helped set the stage for their 2019 program.
“Last season at the Utah race, our full season driver Mike Hedlund had other obligations and couldn’t make the event,” Law told Sportscar365.
“In speaking with Robby Foley, he has a young driver in Michael Dinan that he’s been working with and there was an opportunity. We had a seat open and they were looking for some experience in GT4. That all came together.
“They came out, they ran, they enjoyed the program, and they did well. We continued talking and that’s how that group came together with Flying Lizard for 2019.”
From there, a common interest in returning to the Porsche camp made the switch a logical one.
“Obviously Flying Lizard has a long involvement with Porsche and the new car looks really good,” said Law. “It was the preference after the Utah race that Michael and Robby were looking at the new Porsche.
“Between their interest in it an our ties, it was the natural way to go. From what I’ve heard, Porsche has addressed a lot of different areas that we learned about with the first generation of that car when we ran it in 2017 with Rodrigo Baptista and Nate Stacey.
“I think the car’s much improved and stands a really good chance.”
The challenge of competing for both the Sprint and SprintX championships provides a unique logistical challenge, with the championships racing on the same weekends six times this season.
As a result, the team has built up its infrastructure in order to be prepared for any eventuality.
“We’re going to run ten weekends and there will be several weekends that are Sprint and SprintX combined, so we’ll have four races on some of the weekends,” said Law. “We’ve planned ahead and logistically we’re organizing.
“We’ve got two cars on order so one will be used as a backup if needed. I think if you went into a four race weekend with just a single car in the hauler, one problem and you could miss out.
“The goal is to be prepared and well organized and to try to go for two championships, the Sprint and SprintX.”