Considered a step up from the Sprint Challenge, the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America (PCCNA) Round 4 in Watkins Glen saw two days of intense racing. Several incidents interrupted normal race proceedings, but Riley Dickinson and Zachary Vanier remained calm to secure the win in Race 1 and Race 2, respectively.
Race 1
Dickinson wasted no time at the start, jumping from P3 to P1, passing Jimmy Llibre and Ryan Yardley. Michael DeQuesada had himself a little spin, but it was Marco Cirone who got airborne during a spin at the chicane to bring out the Safety Car.
We got a green flag restart with around 19 minutes left in the race. Race control threw a Full Course Yellow so safety personnel could clear debris from the track with just under 12 minutes remaining.
Riley Dickinson, cool and collected, maintained his lead throughout the race. Kyle Matheus Leist, Yves Baltas, and Paul Bocuse filled in behind the leading pack in the Pro class. In Pro-Am, Alan Metni edged out JP Martinez by just around 0.5s at the checkered flag. In Masters, Scott Blind continued his domination, never losing the lead and stretching it to over eight seconds by the checkered flag.
Race 2
The green flag waves, and Dickinson looks to maintain his winning ways from pole. But that was apparently not in the cards for Race 2. Chaos ensues out of Turn 1, Dickinson gets clipped by Llibre and pushed into the wall. Llibre himself appeared to have been nudged by Zachary Vanier, which may have sparked the larger incident directly behind them. That larger accident ended the race for Patrick Mulcahy, Ashley Freiberg, Scott Blind, Richard Edge, James Sofronas, and Jody Miller.
After a lengthy Safety Car, the race finally restarted with 20 minutes left on the clock. Vanier comfortably held his lead from Tyler Maxson, finishing 0.437s ahead. Yardley, keeping his podium run alive, finished in P3 a further 0.362s behind Maxson. Bravely, Dickinson was able to show why he is the championship leader. After a pit stop under the safety car dropped him to P22, he quickly jumped to P14 on the restart, and eventually finished in P13 just 23.335s off the leader.
Pro-Am saw Martinez, Metni, and Behrman take the podium. Not to be outshone by Dickinson, Metni had also pitted during the race, but was able to edge ahead of Behrman to take P2.
In Masters, Todd Parriot and Peter Atwater were able to keep up with Rob Walker, who led from the restart. They were both ultimately able to make their way past him.
Weekend Summary
Dickinson cemented his Pro class championship lead with his win on Friday, Saturday’s events notwithstanding. Vanier earned his first Carrera Cup victory, a first for a former Sprint Challenge champion. Even with a DNF in Race 2, Blind looks to keep his lead in Masters. In Pro-Am, Martinez should extend his lead with a 2nd and a win in Round 4. Metni also looks to leapfrog Sofronas in the standings after the carnage of Race 2.
While the multi-car incident in Race 2 stood out for the weekend, several drivers showed poise and resilience. Dickinson and Metni most notably showcased their skills and experience. Vanier defined opportunism and determination to claim his first Carrera Cup win. Parriott and Atwater highlighted why Masters class should not be forgotten in Porsche North America.
The 2025 Round 4 of PCCNA at Watkins Glen perfectly showcased why this series continues to thrive. It serves as a launchpad for rising talents, a battleground for seasoned veterans, and pure entertainment for fans and spectators alike.
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PCCNA returns at Road America on 31 July 2025.
Feature Image Credit: Jessica Johnk, Porsche Motorsport North America
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