Moorespeed capped the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama doubleheader at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) on Sunday with a pair of podium finishes by drivers Riley Dickinson and Rob Ferriol. Dickinson raced from 13th on the grid to third place overall and in Platinum Cup with Ferriol finishing in second place in Gold Cup.
The hard-earned podium finish was the fourth of the season overall for 17-year-old Dickinson, and the ninth for Ferriol in Gold Cup.
“I’m really proud of the turnaround from Riley,” Moorespeed President David Moore said. “Racing is a tough sport. Some days you have good days and some days you don’t. Yesterday was one of those days that you learn from and move forward and today was the Riley Dickinson that we know. It was great to see him push hard from the very get-go and he did a fantastic job getting through traffic. He had some pretty epic battles, too, and didn’t give up. Before the race I told him to just go out there and have fun, and I know he had fun today.”
Dickinson’s climb to the podium took the length of the 45-minute race. His No. 53 Moorespeed Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was ninth at the start of lap three and, just past the half way point, moved to a battle for fourth place. Dickinson’s pressure forced the fourth-place car to spin trying to keep pace with just under 10 minutes remaining, and a full course caution one lap later compressed the field to give Dickinson his shot at the podium.
The move to the podium came on the final lap of the race following a competitor’s spin.
“It feels amazing,” Dickinson said. “Back on Monday in testing I made a really bad mistake and the guys have worked throughout the week to get the car back together, so this one is definitely for them. It was the first time I’ve had to come through the field in a Porsche Cup car. My plan on the first lap was to get as many positions as I could. I wasn’t able to get as much as I wanted to get, so I had to calm myself down, breathe, relax and keep on chipping away. I knew I had the pace, I just had to be smart going through the field. It was by far my favorite race that I’ve had, ever.”
Ferriol captured a Gold Cup win in the No. 5 Moorespeed/GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 on Saturday and started second in his class on Sunday. Despite running nearly identical lap times to the eventual winner, traffic kept Ferriol from a chance to battle for the win.
“Rob had more of a race than really showed with Sebastian Carazo,” Moore said. “Lapped traffic definitely played in, but they matched each other sector for sector and were right on pace with each other. It was a good race. We got another podium and today was a great way to finish out a successful weekend. We’re looking forward to Laguna.”
Ferriol’s weekend, which included leading laps in his IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS-class debut for Moorespeed in addition to the Porsche GT3 Cup podiums, topped a successful weekend at his home track.
“You’ve got to be happy with the result,” Ferriol said. “We would’ve loved to have P1, and we certainly had the pace. But I love coming to VIR in and of itself. My wife surprised me with a whole bunch of people this weekend. I had friends from middle school, family, my club racing buddies, so many people out rooting us on. It’s awesome to be able to get on the podium and spray some champagne on them!”
Moorespeed, Ferriol, Dickinson and the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge field return to action at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, September 21-22, in Monterey, California. The podium finishes from VIR can be seen on NBC Sports Network on Friday, September 6th at noon EDT.
