Top Five Finish for Lahlouh at GT World Challenge Debut in Sonoma

Shift Up Now Athlete Therese Lahlouh, along with teammate Thomas Merrill, earned a fifth- place finish in the Pro-Am class during the season opener of GT World Challenge America presented by AWS at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Driving the No. 242 Porsche GT3 car for Wright Motorsports, and sponsored by Byers Auto Group, Mobil1, and PMNA, Lahlouh was excited to make her GT World Challenge America debut on the 2.52-mile, 12-turn road course that she considers her home track. Previously, she competed in Porsche Sprint Challenge, and is a graduate of the Porsche Motorsports ladder system to GT3 racing.

The race weekend began with three official practice sessions under sunny skies for one of the largest GT3 fields in recent history, featuring 20 cars. Lahlouh’s Pro-Am class comprised the majority, with 13 entries.

Lahlouh and Merrill used the practice time to gather data, dial in the Wright Motorsports Porsche, and get up to speed for qualifying.

GT World Challenge America announced a new format for 2026, replacing two 90-minute races on back-to-back days with a single three-hour race on Sunday afternoons. The new format also puts qualifying on the morning of race day.

On Sunday morning at 8:45am PST, Lahlouh was behind the wheel for the first stint of qualifying. Both drivers’ times would be averaged to determine the team’s starting position. Lahlouh noted that the cool track conditions made it challenging to get her tires up to temperature quickly.

“It was only my second morning sticker run, and bringing the tire in at a track like Sonoma is really difficult,” she said. “The cold conditions definitely made it a challenge to get the maximum performance out of the tire quickly, and with track evolution making the track faster as the session went on, it was also important to treat the tires in a way that extended their peak.”

When the qualifying session ended, the No. 242 duo had secured a starting spot on the inside of row nine for that afternoon’s race.

Later that day, the three-hour competition began at 1:45pm PST and Lahlouh was the first to take the wheel for the team.

The 20-car field ran the standard two-by-two formation for the start. When the green flag flew, they continued side-by-side up the hill from turns one into two. Lahlouh had a clean start, gaining a position into the carousel on the first lap.

Ten minutes into the race, a two-car incident caused a full-course caution.  The team elected not to pit, so Lahlouh stayed out to gain track position, advancing to seventh in class (13th overall).

Just over 30 minutes into the race, the Wright Motorsport team elected to pit Lahlouh, opting for a short stop, and effectively re-setting the drive-time clock. This set up their strategy to keep her in the car for another 50-minute stint before the driver change to Merrill, who would drive to the finish.

As the pit stop strategies started to play out in the middle of the race, Lahlouh cycled up into the top ten overall, and fifth in class. She pitted to hand over to Merrill just before the halfway point of the race, running in ninth place overall.

With 50 minutes remaining, Merrill came in for the team’s final pit stop, where the team had to serve a penalty for a procedural error at the previous pit stop. However, he ran a clean race until the checkered flag and brought the car home fifth in class to start the 2026 season.

“It was an incredible start to my GT3 career here at Sonoma Raceway,” said Lahlouh. “We were so close to a podium finish, but unfortunately, a penalty kept us from the result we deserved. My co-driver Thomas had an awesome stint, and I’m super proud of a top five, thanks to the world-class leadership and engineering at Wright Motorsport. We couldn’t be in better hands, and we’re looking forward to taking the fight to COTA. Thank you to my sponsors, PMNA, Byers Auto, and Mobil1.“

Next up, Lahlouh and Merrill head to Texas for round two of GT World Challenge America presented by AWS, at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on April 24-26, 2026.

Podium Finish for Hayes in GT4 America Season Opener at Sonoma

Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes earned a third-place finish with teammate Ed Killeen, driving for Dome Motorsport in the AM class during round one of the Pirelli GT4 America 2026 season at Sonoma Raceway on March 27, 2026.

Hayes and Killeen piloted the No. 37 Junaid Foundation Mercedes AMG GT4 among more than 30 cars in the field for the season-opening weekend, which featured two 60-minute races.

The field also included three other Shift Up Now Athletes, driving for Kellymoss in the Silver class: Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg—both supported by Mobil1, Acumatica and PenFed Credit Union—driving the No. 24 “Be Your Own Hero” Porsche Cayman GT4, and Erika Hoffmann—with teammate Jack Parriott—driving the No. 73 Coverly Home Protection and Kaufmann de Suisse Montreal Porsche Cayman GT4.

The Sonoma weekend began with testing on Wednesday and Thursday on the 2.52-mile, 12- turn road course. Sunny skies gave the Shift Up Now Athletes perfect track conditions to get up to speed in their new series, and specifically for Hayes with both a new car and her new team.

Qualifying took place on Friday morning with new rules for the 2026 season: Only one driver qualifies the race car to determine the starting position for the first race. Then the other driver’s fastest lap from the first race is used to determine the team’s starting position for race two.

Unser was behind the wheel of the “Be Your Own Hero” No. 24 for Kellymoss, with Hayes qualifying the No. 37, and Parriott for the No. 73. Unser brought her tires up to temperature and pressure fast for a strong start, but later dropped behind cars that set their fastest times late in the session. Hayes took a little longer to generate heat in her tires, but set the 17th-fastest time, putting her next to Unser on the starting grid. Parriott’s qualifying time put him and Hoffmann in row 12 for the start of race one.

The season opener began at 2pm PST on Friday under sunny skies. GT4 America rules stipulated a maximum of 35 minutes behind the wheel per driver.

Hayes, Unser and Parriott lined up on the starting grid. After one formation lap, debris on the track caused an additional lap, but the race clock started. The next lap after the green flag flew from the starter's stand, the field ran side by side up the hill from lefthand turn one into the righthand turn two. When several cars came together near the front, Hayes, made a move and gained several positions.

Unfortunately, Unser suffered contact from the car next to her as the cars compressed into the tight second turn, damaging the Cayman GT4, and leaving her and Freiberg to battle handling issues for the remainder of the race.

After a lengthy full-course caution, 41 minutes remained as the field lined up for a single-file restart. Hayes had advanced to 10th and began putting the ninth-place car (second in class) under pressure.

When the pit window opened a couple laps later, Parriott dove into the pits and handed the No. 73 car over to Hoffmann. Hayes and Unser elected to stay out, and both set personal-best times.

Unser was the next to pit, giving the wheel to Freiberg. Then one lap later, after setting another personal-best lap and advancing the car to the lead in class, Hayes passed the car to Killeen. He would go on to cross the finish line third in class, to give the team their first podium of the year.

Freiberg and Unser finished seventh in class (16th overall), and Hoffmann and Parriott gained valuable experience as they completed their first-ever GT4 race, finishing eighth in class (22nd overall).

Race two began at 1:00pm PST on Saturday, once again under sunny, California skies.

Freiberg, Hoffmann and Killeen were behind the wheel for the start. After one formation lap, the green flag flew and the field ran two-by-two through the first few corners. This time, there were no major incidents and the entrants settled into a mostly single-file pack. With tight lap times from 10th through 22nd place in the 30-plus car field, it was tough for Freiberg to make significant progress after her early-race passes.

Just before the halfway point, the pit window opened and Killeen passed the car to Hayes.

Freiberg stayed out for several more laps, setting fast times in clean air. Coupling that with a clean pit stop paid off for the team, moving them into the top five in class (and top 20 overall).

Slightly further back in the pack, Hayes made a pass to advance to the top five in the AM class, and immediately started to lay down some fast laps.

With just over 10 minutes left in the competition, a single-car crash caused a full-course caution, which put the field behind the safety car until the checkered flag. Unser and Freiberg ended up fifth in the Silver class, with Hayes also earning a fifth-place spot in the AM class.

"Wrapping up the opening rounds at Sonoma still feels a bit surreal,” said Hayes. “This opportunity came together just a week before the event thanks to Oore Jewelry and Dome Motorsport, so to come away with a podium alongside Eddie was an incredible bonus.

“The team welcomed me in immediately, and I felt right at home with both the crew and the car. There are still a few details to refine to unlock more pace, but considering the unknowns heading into the weekend, I’m proud of what we accomplished. Dome Motorsport offers a fantastic program with an even better group of people, and I’m truly grateful to be part of it as a Shift Up Now athlete."

Next up, Hayes, Unser, Freiberg and Hoffmann head to Texas for round 3 of the Pirelli GT4 America championship, at Circuit of the Americas on April 24-26, 2026.

Cook Matches Best-Ever Finish to Kick Off Porsche Carrera Cup Season

Shift Up Now Athlete Sabré Cook tied her best-ever result with a sixth-place finish during race two of the double-header season opener Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Solairus Aviation, the support race leading up to the 12 Hours of Sebring, at Sebring International Raceway on March 18-20, 2026.

Driving the No. 37 911 Cup Car for JDX Racing, Cook debuted her updated 992.2 chassis and new, all-white livery as long-time partner privé products stepped into the title sponsor role.

The weekend began on Wednesday, with two practice sessions on the 17-turn, 3.74-mile road course with hot track temperatures under sunny skies. Cook’s session times for the new chassis on Pirelli tires eclipsed those of the previous generation, and she picked up right where she left off in the 2025 season, by running in the top ten for both sessions.

Notably, Cook also set her best track times to date during both practices, and posted fifth- and third-fastest sector times in tricky parts of the racetrack: the infamous turn one, and the final corner, Sunset Bend.

Qualifying took place on Thursday morning, and Cook delivered one of her best Carrera Cup qualifying sessions to date. Her fastest lap earned her a ninth-place spot on the starting grid for race one, with her second-fastest lap time slotting her into eighth for race two. Despite the impressive performance, Cook mentioned she felt her car was capable of a top-five qualifying position, had she not been stymied by traffic during the flying laps on her second set of Pirelli tires.

The 3:00pm ET start on Thursday under sunny, blue skies caused high track temperatures and notoriously slick conditions for the first 40-minute race. Cook lined up on the inside of row five for one pace lap before the 27-car field—running two-by-two—took the green flag, which happened to be waved by privé products CEO and founder, Shay Hoelscher.

Before reaching turn one, the field briefly ran four-wide. Cook was still on the inside lane in turn three, then made an arond-the-outside pass at the hairpin (turn seven) to advance into eighth. She then spent almost the entirety of the race trying to find a way to pass the seventh-place car ahead.

With just minutes to go, the two made contact, and Cook was forced to retire. Her competitor was later assessed a blocking penalty for moves made during the competition, but Cook was already out of the race, and classified 25th.

The following day, the second 40-minute race began at 5:45pm ET. This time, Cook started on the outside of row four and the field completed another clean start. She repeated the turn-seven pass that worked for her the day before, and moved up to seventh on the opening lap.

Before the second lap began, she got a solid run onto the back straight and through the final corner, allowing her to make a late pop to the inside heading into turn one. This moved her into sixth, where she remained for most of the race, keeping within just a couple seconds of the fifth-place car.

Cook set the fifth-fastest lap of the race on her way to match her best-ever Carrera Cup finish of sixth.

“I’m thrilled to have matched my best finish in the Porsche Carrera Cup series this past weekend at Sebring,” said Cook. “It’s been an incredible effort from the entire JDX Racing team, and I’m so grateful to all my partners for their unwavering support. It’s exciting to see all the preparation, hard work, and consistency are paying dividends on track. Moments like this make all the challenges and long hours worth it, and I can’t wait to build on this momentum in the races ahead.”

Next up, the 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Solairus Aviation season continues on the Long Beach Street Circuit on April 17-19, 2026.

Double Podium for AE Victory Racing to Kick Off 2026 Season at Barber

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Grisham, Michele Abbate, Sally Mott, Sarah Montgomery and Ashley Freiberg, along with AE Victory Racing (AEVR) Shootout winner Brenna Schubert, brought home a pair of podiums for AEVR in the 2026 World Racing League (WRL) season opener at Barber Motorsports Park on February 26 - March 1, 2026.

The race weekend would mark AEVR’s first-ever competition as a two-car, all-female-lineup team. Both entries were Toyota Supra GT4s, with Montgomery, Freiberg and Schubert piloting the No. 119, and Grisham, Abbate Mott driving the No. 120.

For the first time ever at Barber, max track time was available on Thursday for WRL teams. However, intermittent rain throughout the day meant minimal laps run. The AEVR teams used the time to focus on driver-change practice and initial car evaluation.

On Friday, the first practice session ran under damp track conditions, but by the second session and qualifying later that day, it had dried out, allowing for a highly-competitive qualifying session.

Strategic tire management and traffic decisions made the difference for the AEVR teams. At the end of the qualifying session, the No. 119 was third with a lap time of 1:32.59, and the No. 120 was fifth, with a lap time of 1:33.05. However, post-session penalties for another car advanced each car one spot, to second and fourth on the starting grid.

The first eight-hour race of the season began on Saturday, with Freiberg behind the wheel of the No. 119 car on the outside of row one in class, and Grisham in the No. 120 car on the outside of row two.

Both cars had strong first stints, with Freiberg leading laps through the pit stop cycles, and Grisham keeping the No. 120 in the top five for her entire stint, running as high as third. On lap 80, a full-course caution flew, just two hours into the race. Both AEVR cars elected to do their next stop and driver changes. Freiberg handed the car over to Schubert in second place, and Grisham handed it over to Abbate in fourth.

Schubert and Abbate continued the clean, strong run before the final driver changes happened on lap 174. Montgomery and Mott got behind the wheels to drive the final stints full of fast- paced laps. During the last hour of the competition, Mott advanced the No. 120 team into fourth place, while Montgomery held position to give the No. 119 their first podium finish of the season.

On Sunday, the seven-hour competition took place under blue skies, and included a one-hour break for church services. Once again, Freiberg would start for the No. 119 team, with Grisham taking the green flag in the No. 120. Each drove a triple stint to take their teams into the top five before the enforced break.

At the restart, Mott was behind the wheel for a huge stint, putting in almost three hours as she drove to the front of the field in the No. 120, taking the lead before handing the car over to Abbate.

In the No. 119 Supra, Schubert continued to execute in her first-ever GT4 weekend. The two teams were on different pit strategies but Schubert moved herself into the final podium position before Montgomery took the wheel for the final time.

Abbate in the No. 120 dropped back to second place behind the BMW GT4 car and was hoping for a code 35 as she saved fuel, but ultimately had to stop for a splash to make it to the checkered flag. This promoted the No. 119 to second place, giving AEVR a second-third finish, with both cars on the podium, to end the weekend.

“What a first weekend for AE Victory Racing,” said Montgomery. “Very grateful for all the team’s preparation and hard work including all of the drivers. Thank you to TeamOne Logistics and Erin Vogel for making this possible!”

Freiberg commented, “For both cars to earn podium finishes on our first race weekend is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the strength of this entire team. I’m so proud of how everyone executed, especially with the rain washing out our first day on track and adding an extra layer of challenge. Every single team member stepped up and the results truly reflect that effort.”

Schubert said, “I am so thankful to be a part of this team. I would say it’s hard to believe we scored three podiums on our debut weekend, but after seeing the top notch that Erin has put together in action, it’s not hard at all! Everyone worked so hard and put in effort needed to get us results. I am honored to be a part of it and I can’t wait to come back even stronger at Thunderhill, striving for the top step this time!”

Grisham added, “What a great first weekend with AE Victory Racing at Barber Motorsports Park! Both cars did well and it was an incredibly strong way to start the season. Huge credit to my teammates Sally and Michele who did an amazing job all weekend and made our P3 result possible. Proud of the teamwork and already looking forward to carrying this momentum into Thunderhill.”

Abbate said, “I am so incredibly proud of our entire team as a whole. We had a killer first event and every aspect of it was such an honor. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!”

Mott commented, “This was such an amazing way to start the season. I couldn’t be happier with a double podium. Driving the AE Victory Racing Supra to P1 was seriously so much fun and I’m really proud of how quickly everything came together. The synergy with the team felt natural from the start. Everyone was locked in and working toward the same goal. There’s always more to find, but I think this weekend gave the team a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the season. I’d absolutely love to come back and do it again with this group.”

Next up, the AEVR teams head to Thunderhill Raceway Park for the second event of the 2026 season, taking place on April 3-5, 2026.

 

Nicole Havrda Announces 2026 Season with Shopify Racing Powered by TWOth

Shift Up Now Athlete Nicole Havrda unveiled her 2026 racing season plans, joining Shopify Racing powered by TWOth for its full-season participation in the 2026 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season. This marks a major milestone for the organization with the launch of a brand-new program in partnership with Shopify and the debut of the Ligier JS P325.

Havrda will make an exciting transition from F1 Academy to prototype racing in the IMSA VP Challenge, representing a significant step in her career as she expands into sportscar and endurance competition. She will be joined by Travis Hill for the 2026 endurance races.

“After an incredible journey in open-wheel racing, stepping into LMP3 with TWOth Autosport is a dream come true,” says Havrda. “Doing it with a Canadian team feels like home!”

The 2026 season will be the first year of competition for the Ligier JS P325, the next-generation LMP3 platform in IMSA competition. Shopify Racing powered by TWOth will be among the early adopters of the new car, underscoring the team’s commitment to innovation, technical development, and long-term growth within sportscar racing.

For more information and updates, check out the Shift Up Now website and follow on Instagram @ShiftUpNow. 

“The Hannahs” to Compete in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for 2026

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham announced this week that their Heart of Racing (HoR) team will switch from competing in Pirelli GT4 America to IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for its female-led Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo effort, in the 2026 racing season.

“The Hannahs,” who have been paired up in GT4 America for the the past two seasons, brought home a podium finish in 2025 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and a pair of top tens at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

The duo will pilot the No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage for 2026 in the GS class. The new entry joins HoR’s single-car efforts with its Aston Martin Valkyrie (GTP) and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo (GTD) in the WeatherTech Championship. For the four-hour season opener at Daytona International Speedway, they will be joined by Aston Martin junior driver Mike David Ortmann.

“Racing a full season in the 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is a dream,” said Grisham. “I’m excited to kick off the season at Daytona and take on some iconic tracks that are new for me, like Watkins Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. I’m really looking forward to continuing to share the car with Hannah Greenemeier. The longer race format is a bit different than what we are used to, but I think it will play to our strengths. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.”

Greenemeier shared in Grisham’s excitement, saying, “I’ve watched the series for many years and it has a lot of talent in it. Being in the IMSA paddock is truly a privilege. It’s great to be back with Hannah [Grisham] for another year, and to have Mike Ortmann with us in Daytona is something I’m incredibly excited for. I’m ready for our first race in Daytona in January; it’s track I have never driven on, but I know that we will get up to speed quickly.”

Greenemeier and Grisham will kick off the season in Daytona, FL for the “Roar Before the Rolex 24,” taking place on January 16-18, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway. Race fans can find the full 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge schedule HERE.

AE Victory Racing Finishes Third in Championship After Back-to-Back Podiums at COTA

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery, Alana Carter and Ashley Freiberg earned two consecutive podium finishes for AE Victory Racing (AEVR) in the World Racing League (WRL) championship finale at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on December 4-7, 2025.

As a result, the trio’s sophomore season ended by finishing third in the WRL championship, a fitting finish to what the team described as “a year defined by growth, roster expansion, and continued commitment to advancing women and emerging talent in motorsport.”

Driving the No. 119 Toyota Supra GT4, the Shift Up Now Athletes first hit the track on Thursday for the Max Track Time event, their first opportunity to dial in the car. There were mixed weather conditions during the session on the 3.426-mile, 20-turn permanent road course, so AEVR used the session for focused development work.

Freiberg set the pace early with a 2:20.96, while Carter logged her first laps at the venue and spent significant time in data review to accelerate her learning curve. Next up, Montgomery was tasked with qualifying on Friday, trying to find a gap in the typical WRL heavy traffic. She was able to use clear air to secure a sixth-place spot on the starting grid.

Saturday’s race opened with 74 cars on the grid, and Montgomery was behind the wheel for the green flag. AEVR surged forward immediately, jumping from sixth to fourth on the opening lap before a series of incidents brought extended neutralization for the first two hours of the race.

The team remained in podium contention through multiple red flags and cautions, strategizing fuel windows and driver timing while averaging consistent race pace. Extended running saw the team reach second place late in the middle stint before a restart issue on pit lane cost time. Montgomery set the team’s fastest lap of the day with a 2:22.46 on Lap 23. After eight hours of continuous pace, the team finished fifth overall.

Sunday’s seven-hour race began in crisp, dry conditions, with Montgomery once again climbing through the field early. AE Victory Racing ran as high as second mid-race through precise pit stops and determined pacing.

With approximately two hours left in the race, the team was forced to change drivers and refuel under a green flag. Several laps later, the whole field went into a full-course caution, meaning the pace car set the AEVR team a lap back. When the checkered flag fell, the No. 119 Toyota Supra crossed the line in sixth place overall, sealing valuable championship points and locking in the team’s third-place result in the championship.

Team co-founders Erin Vogel and Aaron Snair were at home preparing for the arrival of their new baby, but Vogel watched all the action and commented, “This weekend wasn’t just about results. It represented how much stronger and more capable this organization has become. To finish third in two national-level championships in only our second season is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

Montgomery said, “I’m so proud of the way this team has come together this season and fought hard for every finish. To claim third in the championship is a well deserved reward for the amazing efforts of every single person on this team. I’m proud of Alana and the growth of the development program and I look forward to continuing our efforts for next year. We certainly missed having Erin with us this weekend but I want to thank Kale and Jim for stepping in, my family for their endless enthusiasm this season and of course my sponsors Team One Logistics and Lafayette Travel for their support.”

Carter said, “Finishing the 2025 season with AE Victory Racing is very bittersweet. I’ve had the most amazing year with them and it was awesome putting together everything I learned this year for the final race of the season. The race was so chaotic and intense but honestly some of the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel. I can’t thank Erin and the team enough for the opportunity they gave me this year, it was truly a dream come true.”

Lastly, Frieberg added, “This weekend was hard fought and I think we’re all pretty pleased that we got to third in the championship. I love being a part of the passion and vision of everything Erin is building with the team and the development program. I’m glad we have the results to show for it and I’m looking forward to being a part of the shootout and continuing the momentum for 2026.”

The 2026 WRL schedule kicks off at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, TX on February 6-8, 2026. Until then, AEVR is excited to celebrate its 2025 success, knowing that it’s poised for continued expansion and a march toward the championship next season.

A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation Raises More Than $100,000 in Grants for Female Racers

The Shift Up Now Foundation is thrilled to announce that its second-annual, in-person fundraising event - A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation presented by PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche - raised just over $100,000.

More than 175 people showed up to the Tom Wood Aviation Hangar in Fishers, IN, for an unforgettable evening with an electric feeling in the air. Surrounded by race cars and airplanes, guests were treated to amazing food catered by Cunningham Restaurant Group and craft cocktails from Simplicity Cocktails, while listening to live music from local artist Kenna Loren and panels featuring Shift Up Now Foundation grantees and other special guests.

The event also included a massive assortment of silent auction items, in addition to a diamond pull from Master Jewelers and high-end whiskey raffle from West Fork Whiskey.

The best part about A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation was that the entire event was focused on the Shift Up Now mission: Providing opportunities to female racers believed to have the talent and aptitude to succeed in motorsports, giving them access to more competitive equipment, seat time for testing and practice, and resources to help grow their careers.

In 2024, the inaugural “A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation” raised more than $80,000, which went toward grants for the 2025 season. The Athletes made full use of the help they were given, winning races, podiums, pole positions and championships.

Not only did this year’s event exceed expectations by raising more than $100,000 - including just over $20,000 from silent auction items - the Shift Up Now Foundation is honored to announce that co-title sponsor PenFed Credit Union has committed to return for 2026.

PenFed Credit Union President/CEO James Schenck commented, “PenFed is honored to stand alongside the extraordinary women who are trailblazers in motorsports. Their drive, talent, and determination set new standards of excellence and inspire others to pursue greatness. By continuing our support, we help pave the way for these remarkable athletes to break barriers and redefine what is possible in racing, while encouraging the next generation to follow in their footsteps and champion excellence in all they do.”

Shift Up Now CEO Pippa Mann added, “As I take a moment to reflect on this year’s ‘A Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation,’ there are so many people to thank who made it possible. From our co-title sponsors - PenFed Credit Union and Tom Wood Porsche - to our friends in motorsport - M1 Concourse, Lucas Oil, Mazda Motorsports and Polaris Talent - to our event committee, RB Consulting, and all of the other amazing donors and sponsors.

“I also want to thank everyone who attended, bid in our silent auction, volunteered or participated in whatever way they could to help us make our first event of this scale so special.

“Thank you also to Tom Wood Porsche for providing such a unique event location at the Aviation Hangar, to Cunningham Restaurant Group for the delicious catered food, and West Fork Whisky, Simplicity Cocktails, Alma de Agave Tequile and Lemba Rum for the amazing cocktails. We loved seeing everyone turn out in their favorite shades of blue as we celebrated, and raised funds for the next generation of talented female racers.”

A photo album recapping the evening is now available for viewing HERE.

For those that missed the event or simply want to be involved in joining the Shift Up Now mission moving forward, you’re invited to make a donation at www.ShiftUpNow.org.

In addition, sponsorship options are already open for the 2026 event. This is a great opportunity for businesses to network, build brand awareness while supporting a worthy cause at the same time. Please reach out to foundation@ShiftUpNow.org to learn more.

Pair of Top Ten Finishes for “The Hannahs” in Season Finale at Indianapolis

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham earned back-to-back seventh-place finishes overall during the season finale of Pirelli GT4 America at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on October 16-19, 2025.

Driving the No. 26 navy blue and yellow Aston Martin GT4 for the Heart of Racing Team, Greenemeier and Grisham took to the track Thursday for two practice sessions. They ran in the top 15 for the first, then bested their performance by moving into the top ten for the second.

Friday’s qualifying took place at 2:45pm ET under sunny skies, with temperatures in the mid- seventies. Both of the Hannahs set personal-best times on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. Greenemeier was behind the wheel first, qualifying ninth overall for the start of race one. Then Grisham, who previously won her first race in class at IMS for Heart of Racing, took over and qualified seventh overall for the second race.

Saturday morning dawned cool and sunny for the start of the first one-hour competition. Greenemeier lined up on the inside of row five, and rolled side-by-side with the field to the green flag, which flew at 9:50am ET.

Heading into turn one, Greenemeier got squeezed but kept the car clean when a large, multi- car incident in the first turn brought out the full-course caution. Cleanup was lengthy, leaving 36 minutes on the clock at the restart.

Greenemeier was in 11th when the green flag flew again and had a clean restart, immediately completing the pass to move into the top ten. She then went straight to pit lane for the mandatory pit stop and driver change.

Grisham took over and cycled up to ninth overall after the field’s pit stops were completed. She spent the rest of the competition setting fast times and making additional passes to bring the Heart of Racing Aston GT4 home in seventh-place in the Pro Class - and overall - at the checkered flag.

On Sunday morning, the weather painted a completely different picture. A torrential rain swept through the area before the race, leaving a wet race track in its wake. When race two began at 9:45am ET, overcast skies and windy condition remained for the one-hour competition.

All cars went out on wet tires, and after one pace lap, race control elected to start the field behind the safety car due to standing water on track and poor visibility. Grisham was behind the wheel for the single-file start, running in seventh.

She held position through the first few corners as substantial “rooster tails” from the leaders severely limited visibility for the rest of the field. Grisham did her best with the tricky conditions

for the first half of the race, then advanced a few spots when the team elected to leave her on track past the opening of the pit window. As a result, she pulled into pit lane in fifth for the mandatory pit stop and driver change.

Greenemeier took the wheel as the racing line began to dry for the second half of the race. Once the cars all cycled through after the pit stop, Greenemeier was running seventh overall, and fifth in class. By the time the checkered flag flew, she crossed the finish line in seventh overall, and fourth in class, just one place off the podium to close out the season.

"It was a good weekend in Indianapolis, we had some of our strongest pace of the season," said Grisham. "Sunday made for an interesting race in mixed conditions and saw us finish one step short of the podium. Overall, our first year competing in the silver class has been a challenge, but a great learning experience. Huge thank you to The Heart of Racing and everyone who makes it possible for us to race."

The 2026 Pirelli GT4 America schedule kicks off in just 156 short days, when the series heads to Sonoma Raceway for rounds one and two on March 27-29, 2026.

Podium Finish Skyrockets AE Victory Racing to Third in WRL Championship

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery and Ashley Freiberg, together with teammate Charlotte Traynor, earned a third-place finish for AE Victory Racing (AEVR) to claim the final podium spot in the GTO class during race one of the World Racing League (WRL) weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway on October 17-19, 2025.

The Watkins Glen event followed a history-making weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus, where the AEVR team earned the first all-female victory in the WRL GTO class, and were anxious to continue their championship bid. Fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes was also on the team’s timing stand once again, lending strategic expertise to dial in the car for the weekend.

Driving the No. 119 Toyota Supra GT4, Montgomery, Freiberg and Traynor ran in two of the three practice sessions on Friday morning before qualifying later that afternoon.

Temperatures for the qualifying session were the coldest of the season to date. However, despite the challenging conditions and a competitive field, Freiberg’s run on the 3.4-mile, 11- turn road course earned the team an eighth-place starting position for the first race.

Saturday’s eight-hour competition began at 9:00am ET with Freiberg behind the wheel for a three-hour stint, starting on the outside of row four. Heavy rain and incidents early on in the race made her stint chaotic, but she managed to keep the car clean before handing it over to Montgomery mid-day for a triple stint.

Two hours remained when 19-year-old development driver Traynor took the wheel to close out the competition. Her training paid off when she laid down the team’s fastest lap of the day - a 2:01.8 - and brought the car home third in class.

The following morning, Freiberg was behind the wheel again to start Sunday’s seven-hour race. This time, the AEVR team was starting from 11th place after several competitors were sidelined due to incidents from the previous day’s race.

After a solid two-hour stint, Freiberg was running fourth in class when it came time to hand the car to Traynor, who also completed a consistent and focused stint. Finally, Montgomery took the wheel to close out the race with approximately two hours left.

When the team executed a flawless pit stop, the No. 119 Supra advanced from third to second, as the trio anticipated an even better podium finish. However, when a sensor issue forced the car back to pit lane and then the garage for diagnostic checks, the team was forced to retire from the race.

When reflecting on the weekend after Sunday’s race, Montgomery noted, “Saturday was a great race in which everyone worked really hard, and today we were set up to have even better success. Unfortunately with the mechanical issue, we weren’t able to finish it up but I’m immensely proud of our development driver Charlotte, and the whole team for working so hard. It was a great weekend.”

Freiberg agreed, adding, “I’m super pumped for the team with our consistent podium finishes! Everyone executed really well. It was a bummer to have to pull out of the race on Sunday, but I know we will come back in COTA [Circuit of the Americas] stronger!”

Despite the bad luck in race two, AEVR currently sits third in the WRL National Championship standings. Shift Up Now Athlete and AEVR team owner Erin Vogel said, “This weekend really showed how far we’ve come as a team. Our drivers, coaches, and crew executed with professionalism and heart. To see AE Victory Racing move up to third in the national championship standings, even if that may change since we don’t plan to run Sebring, is an incredible achievement. I’m so proud of every single person who helped get us here. It’s a reflection of our hard work, and belief in each other.”

Next up, AEVR heads to Del Valle, TX for the World Racing League National Championship finale at Circuit of the Americas on December 5-7, 2025.