New Zealand talent Ryan Yardley has charged from 19th on the grid to finish 4th in the opening race of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America in Miami.
The 40-minute race run in support of the Miami Grand Prix was anything but ordinary, the first 15 minutes relatively drama free as Yardley picked off car after car to sit 12th when a caution was required for Jimmy Llibre, who suffered radiator damage from contact with another vehicle.
Off the restart, Long Beach winner Will Martin came into grief, making contact with leader Riley Dickenson at Turn 1 and damaging his steering, forcing him out.
Dan Clarke and Kay van Berlo also had heavy contact at this point, both forced out, while Sean Varwig and Jason Hart also came together at that exact moment, sending the latter into a spin.
By avoiding all the carnage, Yardley emerged in sixth with a second caution required to retrieve two stranded Porsche off the Turn 1 runoff.
The Kiwi dropped a spot at Turn 1 off the restart with just 3 minutes remaining, taking it back and gaining two more positions before the chequered flag flew.
It was Dickinson who held on for another race victory, the American topping McElrea Racing’s Tom Sargent, who has finished second in every race this season.
Michael McCann rounded out the podium after third-placed sitter Alex Sedgwick was given a drive-through on the penultimate lap for an earlier incident, also making for one of the positions Yardley gained near the end.
The Porsche Carrera Cup North America returns for one further race tomorrow morning, which begins at 4.25 am and is shown live on the series’ website.
With 40 competitors in the field, the Kiwi continues to march towards his maiden podium, which seems only a matter of time away, making this highly worth a watch.
Header Image: Ryan Yardley (Supplied)
