Ryan Yardley’s Porsche ladder climb reaches its biggest milestone yet in January, as the reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion prepares to make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Fresh off a title-winning season that went down to the wire, the 27-year-old New Zealander will step into GT3 competition for the first time, contesting one of the world’s most famous endurance race in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.
For Yardley, the opportunity represents far more than a one-off start–it is the realization of a long-term goal that began when he first entered Carrera Cup three years ago.
“For me, it’s obviously a dream to graduate to not only doing the Daytona 24 Hour, but also the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” Yardley said.
“It’s just a one-off race right now, but I’m incredibly excited to get to Daytona next month for the Roar and then leading into the race. To continue my relationship with Porsche after three years of Carrera Cup, and to make my first GT3 start in a Porsche, is pretty special.”
Yardley’s Daytona debut with Muehlner Motorsports America will come immediately after the most successful season of his career.
In 2025, he captured the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship in dramatic fashion, sealing the title at Circuit of The Americas with pole position and two race wins for TOPP Racing in a finale that showcased his composure under pressure.
“To win the championship was massive,” Yardley said.
“But to do it the way we did–beating Riley [Dickinson], a past champion, and beating Kellymoss, which has been the dominant team in Porsche racing in North America for so long–that’s what made it even more special.”
The title marked the culmination of a three-year plan for Yardley, who joined the one-make series with a clear objective: to use Carrera Cup as a springboard to top-level GT racing. Making the jump straight into GT3 machinery, the season after winning the championship was always the target.
“That was a huge goal of mine–making sure I went straight from Carrera Cup into GT3,” he said. “To have my GT3 debut at Daytona is going to be pretty special.”
The path to the Rolex 24 came together quickly–and unexpectedly. Yardley revealed that the Daytona deal was finalized in a matter of days, the result of relationships built through coaching and endurance racing outside the Carrera Cup paddock.
“It all happened within almost 48 hours,” Yardley explained. “I had a few different options on the table for Daytona, but I’ve been coaching Dave Musial Jr. in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. This race will be with Dave senior and junior, as well as Peter Ludwig, who’s senior’s coach. It’s wild how it all worked out.”
That connection has already produced results. Yardley and Musial Jr. previously teamed up to win the final round of Porsche Endurance Challenge North America at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this year, strengthening a partnership that now carries into one of the toughest events in global motorsport.
“We already had a win together, which makes it pretty special,” Yardley said. “To do his debut endurance race and get a win showed we had a strong partnership. Now we’re taking on one of the biggest endurance races in the world together.”
Daytona will present a very different challenge from the sprint racing environment that defined Yardley’s Carrera Cup success. Instead of 40 minutes of flat-out intensity, the Rolex 24 demands patience, traffic management, and long-run consistency–skills Yardley is eager to refine.
“Carrera Cup was 40 minutes of all-out sprint racing,” he said. “Endurance racing is different. We’ll need to manage fuel, look after the tires, and deal with traffic–both passing and being passed by LMDh and LMP2 cars. It’s a massive change in dynamic.”
Preparation will begin with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 – multiple days of testing leading into race week. While Yardley’s teammates has previous Daytona International Speedway experience, the race his first at the famous Florida venue.
“We’ve got plenty of time to get adjusted and learn the car,” Yardley said. “It’s the first race at Daytona for most of us, so the focus is on learning, ticking the boxes at the Roar, and putting our best foot forward for the 24.”
The Daytona opportunity comes on the heels of another career highlight: Porsche’s Night of Champions in Germany, where Yardley celebrated his Carrera Cup title alongside champions from across the global Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.
“To experience that for the first time was really cool,” he said.
“Being in a room with drivers I’ve looked up to for years, doing the museum tour and the factory tour–it’s something not many people get to do. The group of North American champions this year was awesome, and the atmosphere was really special.”
While the celebrations marked the end of a successful chapter, Yardley’s focus quickly shifted forward.
“I’m 27 now, and after that night it was straight back to focusing on the future,” he said. “Carrera Cup will always be special, and my time there means a lot, but now it’s about the next chapter.”
That next chapter begins under the lights at Daytona, where Yardley will take on the Rolex 24 with the confidence of a champion and the mindset of a driver still hungry to learn.
“I’m under no illusions about how tough Daytona is going to be,” Yardley said. “You’ve got the best sports car drivers in the world all coming together in January. We just need to prepare as best we can, stay out of trouble, and see what happens.”
For Ryan Yardley, the jump from Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition is exactly where the road was always meant to lead–and Daytona is the perfect place to start the next climb.
The 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season reached its finale Sunday night with the Celebration of Champions at Porsche Austin, where teams, drivers, and partners gathered to commemorate a year that delivered some of the closest and most compelling racing in series history.
Following the final round earlier that afternoon at Circuit of The Americas at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, the night’s event transformed the showroom floor into a stage of champagne, silverware, and shared pride. Championships were formally awarded across all three classes, with several special honors also presented to recognize standout performances throughout the year.
Ryan Yardley completed his breakout season in style, taking the ExxonMobil Pro class championship for TOPP Racing after a season-long battle that went down to the wire. Yardley’s consistency and determination brought the Texas-based team its first Carrera Cup title in front of a home crowd.
He capped off the season in dominating fashion – qualifying on pole and winning both races at COTA.
The New Zealander’s championship added to Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s global legacy, making him the fifth different nationality to capture the title in the fifth year of the championship.
In the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am category, JP Martinez realized a long-held dream with ACI Motorsports, capturing the championship after holding off a fast-finishing Texas local Alan Metni, who won the class title in 2022 & 2024.
Scott Blind and Ruckus Racing capped off a dominant campaign in the Solairus Aviation Masters class, not only claiming the championship but sweeping the Yokohama Most Wins Award, TAG Heuer Most Fastest Laps, and RaceBrew Most Poles — a testament to his year-long dominance.
Aaron Jeansonne of Kellymoss was named Rookie of the Year, closing out an impressive debut season that saw him break through with his first series win and establish himself as one of Carrera Cup’s rising stars.
Adding to the celebrations, TOPP Racing also claimed the Team Championship, while the ANDIAL Cup trophies — honoring the top-performing drivers in the key IMSA races run at Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, Indianapolis, and Road Atlanta — went to Riley Dickinson (Pro, Kellymoss), Alan Metni (Pro-Am, Kellymoss), and Scott Blind (Masters, Ruckus Racing).
The evening concluded with a look toward the future, as Porsche Motorsport North America offered a glimpse of what’s to come in 2026 when the series will debut the new Porsche 911 Cup car, based on the latest generation 992.2 platform.
In addition, the 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America schedule was unveiled, highlighted by the return of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, rejoining a calendar that continues to pair North America’s top circuits with some of the continent’s most prestigious motorsport weekends.
Ryan Yardley – ExxonMobil Pro Champion, TOPP Racing
“It’s been an unbelievable year. It’s what we’ve all been working toward for so long. I joined the team three years ago, and to wrap it up here in Austin with the championship is just incredible. I’m so thankful — and with a giant trophy like this, I can’t complain about that either.
“A massive thank you to everyone at TCS, Apex Capital, and TOPP Racing Performance. Without those guys, none of this would be possible. I truly owe it all to them.
“For me, it was actually pretty cool to have almost a reset coming into the last weekend. Riley and I both had some difficult rounds in the first half of the year, so it really felt like a massive reset heading into the finale. Two points separated us, and it was basically whoever had the best weekend here at COTA would come out as champion.
“It was a pretty awesome way to end the year, for it to come down to the final race like that. A fantastic weekend for myself and the team — I couldn’t be prouder. Honestly, I’m pretty relieved; it’s been a hard-fought year. It was awesome to go wheel-to-wheel with Riley, Zachary, and the rest of the field, but yeah — I’m kind of happy it’s over.”
JP Martinez – Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Champion, ACI Motorsports
“I raced in Sprint Challenge four years ago, and for me, racing in Carrera Cup was always a dream. So to come into this season and achieve the results I was hoping for is just amazing.
“I didn’t do it alone — I have to give a ton of credit to ACI. These guys have worked their butts off behind the scenes. We’ve become like family, traveling together, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard they work. They’re the reason I’m up here, and I’m so grateful for all their effort.
“I also want to thank Porsche Motorsport — Volker (Holzmeyer – Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO) and his entire team — for running such an incredible series. It really is a community. We’ve gotten to know all the people we race with, and it’s been a lot of fun competing alongside everyone.
“Alan (Metni) gave me a fantastic run for my money at the end of the season — hats off to him. He’s an incredible competitor, and it’s been great racing with him, with Kellymoss, and everyone in the field. I just want to say how much I appreciate it — it’s been such a fun and rewarding season.”
Scott Blind – Solairus Aviation Masters Champion, Ruckus Racing
“The team will tell you this has been a really special year. I’ve had a perpetual smile on my face, and I think everyone knows that. If you ever see me walking around the paddock without one, you have my permission to slap me, because this is amazing.
“It’s been incredibly fun to do this with such a great group of people — it really means a lot.
“For the team, and for everything we’ve accomplished together, it’s easy to start taking it for granted or to expect it’ll just happen again next week or next year. But it doesn’t work like that.
“We’re hoping to carry this momentum into 2026. We know everyone out here is trying to beat us, so we’re going to savor this moment, appreciate how special it is, and then work our asses off to make it happen again next year.”
Aaron Jeansonne – Rookie of the Year, Kellymoss
“It’s hard to pick just one moment where I felt like I belonged in this championship. After Watkins Glen, there was a lot of disappointment — knowing there was progress but not seeing it turn into results.
“I really had to reset everything and lean on all the advice I was getting from my team.
“Road America qualifying was the turning point. Even though I didn’t qualify up front, I had a pole lap taken away — but that was the first time I truly felt what it was like to drive an elite Carrera Cup lap.
“From that point on, I tried to channel that feeling for the rest of the year. That was the moment.”
Todd Opperman – Team Owner, TOPP Racing
“Amazing — I don’t even know what else to say. I never dreamed this would happen. We thought we had a good chance, but the team worked so hard, and I owe it all to them — and to my good friend and our sponsor, David Baker, along with his companies, Apex Capital and TCS Fuel Cards.
“What stands out the most is that they never quit. Ryan, Tyler, everyone — they put both hands in and never stopped working, even when I asked them to do something ridiculous two or three times over.”
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At the Brickyard, Aaron Jeansonne’s dreams came true. The Kellymoss rookie captured his maiden Porsche Carrera Cup North America win at Indianapolis, making him the seventh different victor of a record-breaking season.
For Jeansonne, the moment carried the weight of years spent grinding through the junior ranks, leaning on scholarships and coaching work to stay in the sport, and finally proving himself against one of the most competitive Carrera Cup grids the series has ever seen.
“Winning is always the goal,” he said, “but I knew what I was getting into. I’ve been watching the series for a while. I know how competitive it is, I know how high a level it’s at.
“To actually do it myself, to look back on the performance and feel how strong it was — that’s when I realized just how much respect I have for this platform and for the drivers in it.”
His arrival in Carrera Cup was not preordained. Unlike most drivers who start with karting at five or six years old, Jeansonne’s racing career began late, at 16, on dirt ovals in central Louisiana.
He raced asymmetrical go-karts on dusty tenth-mile tracks, learning the basics of setup, competition, and perhaps most importantly, how to lose. Those lessons carried into a Skip Barber school and then into the Lucas Oil Formula Car Series, where he began chasing the dream of climbing the open-wheel ladder.
In 2017, he finished runner-up in the championship and earned the Team USA Scholarship, representing his country in Formula Ford races in England.
But the road wasn’t straightforward. Limited budgets meant only half-seasons in F2000 and British Formula Ford, and by 2019, the open-wheel path had run thin.
Opportunity came instead from Mazda’s MX-5 Cup program. Jeansonne won the 2020 scholarship shootout and spent four years carving out a reputation in one of IMSA’s most fiercely competitive series.
Those years honed his racecraft and introduced him to the professional paddock, where he also worked as a coach to support his career. That coaching led to connections with Porsche GT3 Cup car owners, which in turn created the chance to drive in Porsche Sprint Challenge at the end of 2024.
The speed came quickly, and so did the attention. Supporters helped him land with Kellymoss for a full Carrera Cup campaign in 2025.
Kellymoss provided the perfect launchpad, pairing him with teammate Riley Dickinson, a champion and the most experienced Carrera Cup driver in North America. The pairing gave Jeansonne exactly the mentorship he needed.
“I couldn’t ask for a better teammate than Riley,” he said.
“Aside from the information and data, he’s been supportive from the beginning. Even in his own championship fight, he never held anything back. To see how hard he worked, even with all his success, really inspired me to step up to his level.”
Stepping up became necessary from the moment the season began. The field at Sebring was stacked with veterans and hungry rookies. Jeansonne admits that early in the year, much of his focus was simply keeping the car on the limit.
“At the beginning of the year at Sebring, Miami, Montreal, I was using so much mental energy on track just trying to drive the car fundamentally correctly,” he explained.
“Even when I had good results and showed strong pace, it was still everything I had. A lot of this year has been getting laps and experience, and now things are starting to slow down.”
That comfort was critical at Indianapolis. The 992.1-generation Cup car finally felt like “a comfortable pair of shoes” rather than something unfamiliar and unforgiving. He arrived at the Brickyard with confidence, and his pace showed it.
Jeansonne stormed to pole position for Race 1, only to lose the lead to Zachary Vanier’s decisive move at the start. Vanier went on to win, leaving Jeansonne third. Frustrated but determined, he studied what went wrong.
“Zach’s been so strong at starts all year,” he said. “I knew with him behind me, I’d have to fight. It was bittersweet to get pole and only come away with third, but I learned from it. The next day, I held tighter in Turn 4 and didn’t leave as much room.”
The adjustment worked. In Race 2, Jeansonne defended smartly, controlled the pace, and converted pole into his long-awaited first victory. The emotions hit hardest when he crossed the Yard of Bricks.
“It’s so rewarding,” he said. “Indy is special to everybody. Everybody who grows up a racing fan dreams of racing here one day. To even be here was special, but to get my first win at this place — it was emotional.”
The result was not just a personal breakthrough but also a milestone for the series. Jeansonne became the seventh different driver to win in 2025, breaking Carrera Cup North America’s record for variety at the front.
It underscored the parity of the field and the maturity of the championship as a proving ground.
“I wanted experience that was relatable to where I’m trying to go, which is GT3 racing,” Jeansonne said.
“I haven’t seen a better route than Carrera Cup. With the success people have had here and the careers they’ve built, it just makes sense. It’s the right car, the right style of racing, the right competition.”
For Jeansonne, the road to that first win was long and often uncertain. From dirt ovals in Louisiana to Formula Ford in England, from scholarship shootouts to MX-5 Cup, and finally to the Brickyard in a Porsche, every rung of the ladder brought him closer. Now, with the barrier broken, his ambitions for the rest of the year have grown.
“Early in the year, the goal was just to learn and improve every time,” he said. “Now, with a podium, a win, and poles, the goal is to sustain that. The way to do that is to keep improving, look at what we could have done better at Indy, and apply it at Road Atlanta and COTA. I want to finish the year as strong as anybody.”
At Indianapolis, Jeansonne proved he belongs in the fight. More than that, he wrote his name into the series record books. A first win, a record seventh winner for the season, and a reminder that sometimes the long road pays off in the biggest way possible — with victory at the Brickyard.
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Porsche’s next generation of racing stars are armed with new lessons to carry into the remainder of their 2025 campaigns and beyond after gathering for the annual development workshop at Porsche Penske Motorsport and PitFit – blending technical insight, physical training, and professional mentorship.
The workshop brought together drivers from the Porsche EBOOST Junior Program and the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program—two initiatives that represent the backbone of Porsche’s North American talent development pipeline.
Participants included Porsche Carrera Cup North America racers Zachary Vanier, Sabre Cook, Tyler Maxson, Madeline Stewart, Yves Baltas, and Paul Bocuse, as well as Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama competitors Cole Kleck, Therese Lahlouh, Loni Unser, Anna Cecchi, and Erika Hoffmann.
Day 1: Porsche Penske Motorsport
The first day was held at the state-of-the-art Team Penske / Porsche Penske Motorsport facility in Mooresville, North Carolina—home to the Porsche 963 hybrid prototype that races in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The young drivers got an up-close look at the cutting-edge technology behind the GTP machine and participated in hands-on pit stop drills, including live bodywork changes and even NASCAR tire change pit stops.
“It was amazing,” said Carrera Cup driver Tyler Maxson. “It’s an honor to have Porsche and Penske invite us out to the facility and give us all the information they did.
“It was super cool to see the level of detail a team like Team Penske operates with. I think it opened up a whole new perspective for me on what a truly top-level team looks like.”
“You always hear about ‘Penske Perfect,’ but seeing it in person is just a whole other level. I’m super grateful for the opportunity Porsche and Penske gave us to attend this workshop.”
Drivers were treated to a series of guest speakers throughout the day. Porsche Cars North America’s James Kim presented a sweeping overview of Porsche’s motorsport history, while Ben Atkins and Chance Stewart offered behind-the-scenes insight into Team Penske’s day-to-day operations.
The importance of correctly “fueling the driver” was tackled by Team Penske nutritionist Pam Brown while renowned NBC pit lane reporter Matt Yocum rounded out the lineup, speaking about the media’s role in racing and how drivers can better prepare for television interviews.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama front-runner Erika Hoffmann found the day at Penske equally impactful.
“I’ve really enjoyed the day at Penske,” Hoffmann said.
“It was amazing to see the facility as part of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program workshop. It’s been so fun to be with the other participants, build that bond, and work together.
“What made the workshop so cool is getting to see behind the scenes of such a successful team—and the level of excellence in everything they do.
“I’ve always heard about the lore of Penske, how clean and beautiful it is, and seeing it firsthand has been incredible.”
Hoffmann, along with fellow podium regulars Loni Unser and Anna Cecchi, has been a standout in the Mobil 1 program this season.
“I feel super fortunate and grateful to be part of this program,” she said. “Mobil 1 is such an iconic brand, and I remember looking at this program in years past, seeing the girls run it last year, and thinking, ‘I really want to be part of that.’ So now, to be a member is amazing.”
The opening day of the workshop culminated in a team dinner, where former Porsche factory driver and program mentor Pat Long provided attendees with valuable career advice, sharing lessons from his own journey through the Porsche development ladder and offering insights on how to stand out both on and off the track.
Day 2: PitFit Performance Testing
The second day of the workshop shifted gears from education to driver performance, as Porsche’s junior and female development drivers were put through physical and cognitive testing at PitFit Training. Known for its work with top-level motorsport professionals, PitFit is a cornerstone of modern motorsport preparation.
The drivers underwent rigorous physical and cognitive assessments, which helped them understand their current performance baselines and create personalized training targets.
“Being here at PitFit with the Mobil 1 Porsche Female Driver Development Program has been amazing,” said Unser.
“It’s helped me so much as a driver. I treat it just like I treat a race weekend—looking at data from last year, figuring out where I need to improve this year, and then executing on that.”
“I’ve taken what I learned last year and applied it throughout this season, and I’ve seen my scores improve. That’s always exciting, and I’m really grateful for this program. It pushes me to develop more than I would push myself.”
For Unser, the workshop also reinforced just how valuable the Mobil 1 program has been in her development.
“Being part of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Development Program is absolutely invaluable,” she said. “It gives me the resources I need to grow and improve. Hearing from incredible people like Pat Long has been so important to my career—and beyond that, it’s helped me build an incredible network.”
“Getting to see Team Penske and how they operate is incredibly inspiring. They do everything to such a level of perfection, and it motivates me to bring that same philosophy into my daily life.”
Zachary Vanier, a third-year member of the EBOOST Junior Program and current Carrera Cup competitor, also found the physical component of the workshop eye-opening.
“This was my third opportunity to take part in the annual workshop, and this was absolutely the best yet,” Vanier said.
“It was a great couple of days here in Charlotte with everyone in the program. The physical fitness testing was especially eye-opening for me. It gave me a clear picture of where I stand compared to last year’s results and showed me exactly where I need to focus moving forward.
“I think the design of this program really gives us the tools and information to improve—it’s just a matter of applying it now.”
Vanier echoed the broader sentiment shared by many of his peers: that the EBOOST Junior Program is helping him compete at a higher level.
“The Porsche EBOOST Junior Program has been incredibly beneficial,” he said.
“When you’re racing in a single-make series, you’re constantly trying to find those small advantages over the competition. Being part of a program that includes such a select group of drivers gives me that edge.”
“Utilizing the resources and everything we’ve taken from the workshop, I’m confident I can implement that into my approach going forward. It’s been an honor to be part of this program, and I’ve learned a lot that I’ll definitely carry with me.”
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It’s a long way from the streets of Manhattan to the podium in Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Formula 1 events—but Yves Baltas has made that leap.
With no racetracks in sight growing up on New York City’s Upper West Side, Baltas’ rise through the ranks has been anything but conventional. Now a race winner and title contender in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, he’s proving that talent, resilience, and bold choices can overcome even the most unlikely beginnings.
“It was a complete mistake that we ended up on the track,” Baltas said. “It started more as a father-son hobby, and it kind of took off from there.”
What started as a weekend activity quickly escalated. The Baltas family traveled for karting events across the Northeast before committing fully to a European open-wheel path. At just 14 years old, Baltas moved to the United Kingdom to pursue racing.
“I didn’t really think about it at the time,” Baltas (now 23 years old) said. “My parents told me the best competition was in the UK. They said, ‘You can go to school and be with your friends or pursue racing.’ I didn’t hesitate. I said I’m going racing.”
With his parents still based in New York, while Baltas had family in London, he was mainly on his own, traveling between team facilities, simulators, and race tracks.
“I would be getting up at five in the morning to take the train, and then would be getting home at 10 p.m., every day of the week. At the time, it felt normal, but looking back now, it was pretty intense for a 14-year-old.”
He worked his way through British F4 and F3 before shifting gears into sports car racing. His first experience in GT competition came in Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup—one of the most competitive one-make series in the world, showcased on the Formula 1 stage.
“It was my first season of GTs, and I did it in Supercup with no testing or anything,” he said. “You’re up against the top 20 guys in the world, and three-tenths is the difference between first and twelfth. You don’t get time to settle in. It’s kill or be killed.”
Baltas described the 911 GT3 Cup car as a unique challenge, especially with limited seat time on Supercup weekends. “Each session’s 30 minutes, so you only get an hour and a half of driving per weekend,” he said. “You have to go in there fully knowing the car and trusting yourself. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend what I did, but I learned a lot.”
In 2024, he returned stateside to compete in Porsche Carrera Cup North America for the first time. The season was anything but smooth—he drove for three teams over the course of the year—but it ultimately led him to a full-time seat with ACI Motorsports.
This season, Baltas and ACI came to Miami determined to leave no doubt. The result: two huge wins and the team’s first-ever Pro class victories.
“We worked so hard at ACI to have those results,” he said. “Going from last year, where we’d never had a Pro win, to having two in one weekend was something extremely special. The car was amazing. It was really nice to kind of prove myself and put my name on the table.”
With another trip to Montreal coming up, Baltas wouldn’t mind a repeat of last year’s weather, within reason.
“I’d love to see a wet race,” he said. “Not as wet as last year, because I’d actually like the race to finish and not end under safety car. But maybe a wet qualifying and dry races. That’d be fun.”
The 2024 title fight has only intensified with the return of defending champion Riley Dickinson, but Baltas welcomes the competition.
“When I found out Riley was coming back, I was happy because I’d rather compete for a championship against someone who people call one of the best.”
Split between shops in Braselton, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, ACI Motorsports has its eyes on Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Pirelli GT4 America for 2025. While the former series sees drivers take on solo efforts, Swearingin’s latter entry welcomes past Carrera Cup champion Riley Dickinson as a co-driver and also for his debut in the SRO paddock.
The team’s second car features former Porsche Sprint Challenge North America racer Dan Sibille with Dutch former Carrera Cup aces Loek Hartog and Kay van Berlo splitting the co-driving duties. Van Berlo is filling in for his fellow Dutchman at a number of rounds despite officially “retiring” to concentrate on his business career after his championship success last year.
“Kay being the dedicated person that he is, I wasn’t surprised by his retirement and going to live his dream in a different way,” said Swearingin.
“When Kay let me know he was going to be doing that, we consulted with him on the guys we were looking to replace him. We all put our heads together, and it was a pretty easy choice.”
Looking further ahead, Baltas sees his future in endurance racing, with Porsche still central to that vision.
“I’d love to be driving a Porsche in an endurance championship—whether that be in the U.S. or Europe,” he said. “But right now, my 100 percent focus is on this season. It’ll dictate my career in the future.”
For a kid who stumbled into racing by accident and left home at 14 to chase a dream, Baltas has come a long way. Now firmly part of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America front-running group with ACI Motorsports, he’s not just proving he belongs—he’s aiming for more.
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