HPD GT3 Academy Graduates in Racers Edge Acura

Photo: Racers Edge Motorsports

Racers Edge Motorsports will return to Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competition with a single Acura NSX GT3 Evo featuring three HPD GT3 Driver Academy graduates.

The Florida-based team, which claimed the 2019 Pro-Am and 2020 Overall championships, will run Taylor Hagler, Dakota Dickerson and Jacob Abel, three of the four graduates that took part in the program’s inaugural season last year.

Hagler will compete in the entire season in the No. 93 Acura, with Abel and Dickerson sharing the wheel at alternating events.

Dickerson, meanwhile, will partner with Hagler in next month’s season-opener at Sonoma Raceway.

The trio take over the reigns of the entry that was driven by Trent Hindman and Shelby Blackstock last year.

“All our students did great with the program last year, so we’re excited to continue to coach these drivers throughout the coming season and further develop their skills while we race,” said team principal Jon Mirachi.

“We’ll set goals for each driver for every event and track their progress over the year.”

Hagler is set for her first full season of GT3 competition in what will mark a dual sports car championship campaign alongside her IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge commitments with Bryan Herta Autosport in TCR.

“I had my start in professional racing in the SRO in 2019 and it will be great to be back in the paddock for a full season effort in GT World Challenge America,” she said.

Dickerson joins the GT3 ranks after two seasons in IMSA Prototype Challenge series, where he finished runner-up last year with a win, podium and three top-five finishes.

“The HPD GT3 Academy provided us with a tremendous amount of support and feedback and it will be good to put this to action in GT World Challenge America,” Dickerson said.

Abel, meanwhile, will make his GTWC America debut beginning with the second round of the season at Circuit of The Americas in May.

“I cannot say enough good things about Jon Mirachi and his team, so to finally be able to compete with them is going to be an honor,” he said.

“The knowledge that Dakota, Taylor, Karl [Wittmer] and myself gained during the GT3 Academy in 2020 is invaluable and I can’t wait to put it on display in GT3 competition.”

Racers Edge will also continue its partnership with HPD for the season season of the GT3 Driver Academy, which is slated to kick off in April.

The No. 93 Acura is expected to be joined by another season-long NSX GT3 Evo in GTWC America, fielded by a separate customer team.

Acura NSX GT3 program manager Lee Niffenegger told Sportscar365 that a third entry could join the grid mid-season.

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