Shift Up Now Athletes Alana Carter, Michele Abbate and Hannah Grisham won the second race of a double-header World Racing League (WRL) weekend for in the No. 120 AE Victory Racing (AEVR) entry at Sebring International Raceway on October 15-18, 2026.
In addition, fellow Shift Up Now Athletes Ashley Freiberg, Sarah Montgomery and Brenna Schubert finished second in both races, giving AEVR four podium finishes across its two entries.
The team also secured a 1-2 qualifying result, with the No. 119—driven by Freiberg, Montgomery, and Schubert—earning its first pole position. The results continued the momentum of the team’s two-car Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 program, with both entries demonstrating competitive pace and the driver lineup putting its driver development, racecraft and fuel-management skills to work across the two races.
Both AE Victory Racing entries showed strong pace from the outset, qualifying well and positioning themselves to contend at the front of the GTO field. The No. 119 proved particularly strong throughout the weekend, while the No. 120 continued to demonstrate its ability to recover positions and remain in contention.
Saturday’s race brought changing conditions that ultimately influenced the final results. Rain began falling in the final hours of the race, and the team elected to stay on its existing tires rather than switch to grooved rain tires. As the rain continued and intensified, the decision became increasingly consequential.
AEVR’s drivers continued to manage the wet conditions and maintain competitive pace, bringing both cars home on the podium. The No. 119 finished second, followed by the No. 120 in third.
The race also provided valuable evidence of the drivers’ continued progress. Schubert delivered quick, consistent stints and showed improved confidence navigating traffic, while Carter adapted quickly to the Sebring circuit and maintained her pace over longer stints without significant fatigue.
AEVR returned Sunday with a strong performance from both its drivers and crew. Several competitors challenged the team during the opening stages, but mechanical issues among rival entries changed the competitive picture as the race progressed.
With its cars running consistently and its pit crew executing clean stops, AEVR established a gap over the field. The team’s pit-lane performance was a defining factor, allowing both entries to maintain their positions at the front while managing fuel requirements over the race distance.
As the race entered its final stages, fuel strategy became the deciding factor in the battle between the two AEVR cars.
The No. 119 had held the lead, but its pace through the middle portions of the race increased its fuel requirements. With no late caution to provide an opportunity to reset the strategy, the team determined that the car would need to make an additional fuel stop. The No. 120, meanwhile, was able to conserve fuel through the closing stint.
Grisham managed her fuel consumption effectively, bringing the No. 120 to the checkered flag without an additional stop. The fuel light came on during the final lap, underscoring how closely the team had calculated its remaining fuel.
Montgomery also delivered strong pace in the No. 119, but the additional stop cost the car its lead. The two entries remained ahead of the third-place competitor, finishing as the only cars on the lead lap.
The No. 120 took the overall victory, with the No. 119 finishing second. The result also secured AEVR the Eastern Championship, with the No. 120 finishing first and the No. 119 second in the Eastern Championship. The team’s Sunday performance highlighted its ability to combine speed with strategic decision-making and execution under pressure.
AEVR’s Sebring performance adds to a season that has included strong results from both Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 entries. With the Eastern Championship secured in first and second place, the team also continues to lead the National Championship standings.
The team remains focused on its broader goal of creating meaningful opportunities for women in motorsport through funded seat time, professional coaching, mentorship and education. Its Driver as CEO curriculum expands that approach beyond on-track performance, helping drivers develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage their careers as professional athletes.
With the Eastern Championship secured, a Sunday victory, four podium finishes across the weekend and continued progress throughout its driver lineup, AEVR leaves Sebring with another strong result to build on as it works toward the next stage of its development program.
