Top Ten Finish for Freiberg and Unser in GT4 America at Sebring

Shift Up Now Athletes Ashley Freiberg and Loni Unser earned a ninth-place finish overall—their best of the season so far—in race one of the Pirelli GT4 America double-header weekend at Sebring International Raceway on May 7-9, 2026.

Fellow Shift Up Now Athletes Erika Hoffmann and Laura Hayes were also at Sebring for rounds four and five of the GT4 America championship. Two weeks ago, a schedule clash kept Hayes from competing at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) with Dome Motorsport, but she was slated to rejoin teammate Eddie Killeen in the No. 37 car. Unfortunately, an issue with their Mercedes AMG GT4 car on Thursday couldn’t be resolved, and resulted in it being parked for the weekend.

Hoffmann joined new teammate Paul Bocuse to co-pilot the No. 73 Kellymoss entry for the Sebring race weekend in a striking black and gold livery.

Freiberg and Unser—both supported by Speedway Motors, PenFed Credit Union, Acumatica, Mobil1, Radius, and Pagid—piloted the No. 24 “Be Your Own Hero” Porsche Cayman GT4 in the Silver class for Kellymoss.

The weekend began on Thursday with the first official practice session, where Freiberg and Unser ran fourth in the Silver class, and Hoffmann and Bocuse in sixth. In typical Florida fashion, the hot, humid weather made for high track temperatures and a challenging environment that would continue throughout the weekend.

Friday’s schedule was jam-packed with the second official practice, followed by qualifying and the first of the two races.

The traditional GT4 America qualifying format returned, featuring efforts from both drivers— one qualifies first and starts the first race, the other qualifies second and starts the second race.

In the No. 24 car, Unser was the first driver to qualify, running 12th overall to start on the outside of row six for the first race that afternoon. Meanwhile, Hoffmann took the wheel of the No. 73 car for qualifying. Her session was compromised due to lots of traffic on each lap, resulting in a starting position on the outside of row 12 for race one.

In the second qualifying session, Freiberg set the fastest time of the weekend so far, putting the duo 16th on the grid for the second race.

After the COTA race weekend that featured a single, three-hour race, the Pirelli GT4 America series returned to the format of two one-hour races at Sebring.

Race one began on Friday at 5:40pm EST under cloud cover, with 30 cars originally entered, but 29 on the starting grid without Hayes and Killeen. Unser and Hoffmann lined up on theoutside of rows six and 12, respectively, then the field ran in a two-by-two formation to the green flag.

Once across the line, cars fanned out wide. Unser was still on the outside lane all the way through turn five before she was able to find a hole to slot into 13th place overall. Hoffmann made progress from her starting position, advancing four positions into 20th by the end of the first lap. By the team the field had completed the second lap, she was running 18th.

Just as the third lap began, a full-course caution flew for a stopped car with a puncture. Minimal cleanup meant the caution was short, and the race went green again just two laps later.

Unser continued to run within one second of the 12th-place car ahead for her entire stint, with Hoffmann holding steady inside the top 20. Both Kellymoss cars were on the same strategy and pulled into pit lane for the mandatory stop just before the halfway point of the race.

Bocuse took over for Hoffmann and passed several cars to arrive at the checkered flag in 14th place, the second consecutive top-15 finish for the No. 73 car.

The same pit stop strategy worked perfectly for Freiberg and Unser, cycling Freiberg into the top 10 overall. She then gained one more position to earn a ninth-place finish, the first overall top ten for the pair in their debut GT4 America season.

The following day, race two began in the mid-day heat at 12:45pm EST. Ambient and track temps were scorching, creating difficult track conditions for the GT4 America field.

Freiberg was behind the wheel, rolling off on the outside of row eight. After being trapped on the outside through the first sequence of corners, she dropped back to 20th, and then immediately began fighting her way back. She was already back up to her starting spot in 16th by the time another early full-course caution flew.

Once again, the caution was short and the race resumed just a few laps later. It would continue to run under the green flag until the pit stop window opened. This time, Kellymoss split the strategy between its two cars.

Bocuse pitted the No. 73 car relatively early and handed the wheel to Hoffmann. Alternatively, Freiberg ran as long as possible, working to set fast times in clean air and leapfrog several competitors before Unser took over in the No. 24.

After the pit stop sequence, Unser was running in 12th overall with Hoffmann only a few cars back in 15th overall. In a close battle from 11th through 15th, Unser got shuffled back a couple places to 14th, but remained within a half second of the car ahead.

The ongoing battle allowed Hoffmann to close in and—in a battle between Kellymoss teammates—was able to pass Unser for 14th place overall, gaining a spot in the Silver class.

Unser then dropped back to 16th but made a pass just one lap later to regain the spot in the top 15. She then passed Hoffmann back to take over the 14th-place spot. On the penultimate lap, she was on a roll, running 13th overall and closely chasing 12th as the field entered the final lap. She spent the better part of the final lap trading places with the BMW ahead of her that held the 12th-place spot. Just before coming to the checkered flag, she made the pass to earn a 12th-place finish for the No. 24 team.

Hoffmann also completed a strong drive for another top 15 finish overall, bringing her No. 73 car over the line in 14th place.

"After leaving Sebring, I'm feeling both excited and grateful," said Unser. "I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to race with Kellymoss in GT4 America this year alongside Ashley, and backed by some amazing partners. While we haven't achieved the results we want in our class yet, the top ten overall shows we're maing progress and have strong pace. I'm so excited to keep working for that first podium finish in the Silver class!"

Next up, Hoffmann, Unser, Freiberg, and Hayes head to Georgia for rounds six and seven of the Pirelli GT4 America championship, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on June 12-14, 2026.

Best Finish to Date for “The Hannahs” in IMPC at Laguna Seca

Shift Up Now Athletes Hannah Greenemeier and Hannah Grisham earned a seventh-place finish in the GS class driving for Heart of Racing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) series at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca on May 1-3, 2026.

Competing in the third race of their first season with the series, The Hannahs piloted the Heart of Racing No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo. While Grisham had previously raced on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course several years ago in Spec Miata, this was Greenemeier’s first competition on the Monterey, CA track.

Two practice sessions took place on Friday. The No. 26 team ran in the top 20 for the first, and bested their time for the second, running 11th. When it came time to qualify on Saturday, they put the car in 17th on the starting grid among the field of 45 cars, with 30 in their GS class and the remaining 15 in the TCR class.

Sunday’s two-hour race began under overcast skies at 12:40pm PST. Greenemeier was behind the wheel for the start, which ran cleanly for the first two laps.

At the start of the third lap, a massive incident ended with a car upside down in the gravel on the outside of turn two, bringing out an early full-course caution. This gave Greenemeier and her competitors the opportunity to start saving fuel to try and make it a one-stop race.

When the green flag flew again, it was short-lived. After only 10 minutes, another full-course caution flew, followed by another significant cleanup.

One hour and 25 minutes remained once the race resumed. Greenemeier kept the car clean under green-flag conditions, quietly moving the Heart of Racing Aston Martin up through the field and into the top ten.

When a third full-course caution flew for debris on the track, there was just over one hour on the competition clock, creating a potentially-awkward pit strategy for teams all the way down pit lane. Commentators noted that any drivers that pitted under this caution would very likely still have to stop again for a splash to reach the end.

When pit lane opened—and despite the awkward timing—most teams chose to pit and swap drivers. The No. 26 duo was no exception, and Grisham took the wheel, running in the top 15 with 55 minutes to go, after giving the Aston Martin a fuel tank of fuel.

During the last 30 minutes of the race, the various pit-stop strategies began to play out, and Grisham moved into the top ten. She and the other nine cars had all pitted mid-race, with the hopes of having enough fuel to make it to the end.

With 5 minutes to go, one of the cars right behind Hannah, and one ahead of her in the top ten both had to pit for splashes of fuel to get them to the end of the race, but Hannah and the Heart of Racing team got their strategy just right, and she was able to make to the checkered flag without a splash, putting them P7 - their best result in IMPC so far.

“Overall an excellent race from the entire team,” said Greenemeier. “We had a few technical issues in practice, but the guys did a great job getting that resolved before qualifying, and the strategy in the race was on point. Hannah [Grisham] did an amazing job saving fuel in her stint so we didn’t have to stop for a splash before the end, bringing us home the result. It was a true team effort this weekend, and we’re looking forward to our next race in Mid Ohio in a month’s time.”

Next up, The Hannahs head to Lexington, Ohio for the fourth event of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) series, the O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 5-7, 2026.

Pippa Mann to Return to ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring with Breakell Racing

Breakell Racing announced today that Shift Up Now Athlete Pippa Mann will return to compete with the team at  the 54th ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring in Germany on May 14-17, 2026.

Nicknamed “The Green Hell” by Jackie Stewart, the 15.5-mile Nordschleife track features more than 150 turns. It’s infamous for being narrow, with high speeds, and dangerous, unpredictable Eifel weather. The 2026 event is garnering extra attention after Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen announced his plans to compete in the GT3 class, selling out class entries months before the race.

The 2026 event will mark Mann’s sixth time competing at “The Ring”  for the 24 hour race, and her second outing with Breakell Racing, a leading British racing team that competes in GT championships across the UK and Europe.

Mann's return to this year's race is supported by long-time partner Bell Techlogix, Soft Kill, Koicar Racing, Cotton Sox and Drive Toward A Cure.

In 2025, she and her teammates ran in podium position for most of the race until an incident on Sunday morning took them out of contention just hours before the end of the competition.

This year, Mann and her teammates, have their sights set on the podium, and potentially the top of it. They will pilot the No. 967 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4  on Michelin tires, in the Cup 3 class. With a strong entry list, and tight class rules, the Cup 3 class is known to be one of the most competitive at the historic event.

“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to return to Breakell Racing for my second 24 hour race at the Ring with their Cayman GT4,” said Mann.

"It's also incredibly cool to bring Bell Techlogix to another world-famous motorsport event as my partner, and to add the support of my friends from Soft Kill, Koicar Racing, Cotton Sox and Drive Toward a Cure this season.

“The challenge of this race—and this race track—has quickly made it may favorite event of the year. And after a strong run in the first half of the race last year we’re coming back, and our goal is to put this team on the podium. I'm excited to see what we can do!"

The green flag for the 54th ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring flies at 4pm Central European Time, and race fans can stream the race on YouTube. For more updates and behind-the-scenes info, Mann’s fans can follow her Instagram @PippaMann.

AE Victory Racing Builds Momentum Through Demanding Road America Weekend

Shift Up Now Athletes Sarah Montgomery, Charlotte Traynor, Brenna Schubert, Hannah Grisham, Michele Abbate, and Alana Carter continued to build momentum and depth competing for AE Victory Racing (AEVR) at Road America this weekend, tackling one of North America’s fastest and most demanding circuits with resilience, adaptability, and a clear commitment to driver development across both entries in the World Racing League (WRL).

Known for its long straights, high-speed corners, and unforgiving margins, Road America presented an extra challenge to earlier rounds. From the outset, the focus was on preparation and precision. Thursday’s test sessions unfolded under crisp, sunny conditions, giving drivers valuable time to learn the nuances of the four-mile circuit. Development drivers concentrated on building confidence and familiarity with both car and track, while teammates and coaches, Sarah Montgomery and Hannah Grisham provided guidance on key sections like the Carousel, the Kink, and Turn 14—corners where commitment is critical, but mistakes carry heavy consequences.

Friday brought shifting conditions, with early morning clouds and light moisture giving way to a drying track. Leveraging the advantage of a two-car program, AE Victory Racing efficiently evaluated setup variations across both entries. After sampling the No. 120 configuration, Montgomery elected to transfer that setup philosophy to the No. 119, accelerating the team’s ability to find a competitive baseline without sacrificing valuable track time. The remainder of the day was spent prioritizing driver confidence and seat time.

Qualifying showcased strategic decision-making from both crews. In a tightly contested field, the No. 120 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 of Grisham, Michele Abbate, and Alana Carter secured a top-10 starting position, while the No. 119 entry of Montgomery, Traynor, and Brenna Schubert used the session to execute a full-speed tire change and make late adjustments before improving lap times in the closing minutes.

Saturday’s endurance contest saw both cars navigate a dynamic and often interrupted race. Early progress was promising, with the No. 119 climbing through the field and the No. 120 establishing itself firmly in podium contention for most of the race.

Grisham delivered a strong opening stint to move into the top three, while Montgomery in the 119 managed traffic effectively to advance position before handing the car over early on due to a medical setback. A rare occurrence for one of the most resilient drivers in the paddock but an opportunity for development drivers Schubert and Traynor to get valuable experience with long stints in endurance racing.

As the race unfolded, strategy became defining themes. A series of full-course cautions and pit cycles reshuffled the order. The No. 119 faced a setback following on-track contact that resulted in a penalty, but the team responded with composure, maintaining focus on clean stints and consistent lap times. Notably, development driver Brenna Schubert demonstrated significant progression, recording a 2:24.0 lap—an impressive benchmark that underscored her growing confidence in high-speed conditions.

The No. 120 remained a consistent front-runner throughout much of the race, with strong driving from all three drivers keeping the car in contention through traffic, heat, and evolving track conditions. Late-race fuel strategy and close battles in the final hour highlighted the competitiveness of the field, as the 120 finished in the top five and both AE Victory Racing entries finished in the top 10 and in the points.

Sunday’s race presented a new set of challenges, beginning with overnight repairs and early morning adjustments to both cars. The collaborative spirit of the paddock was on full display, as fellow competitors within the WRL community provided and borrowed parts to ensure many cars remained race-ready—reflecting a shared commitment to competition on track rather than in the garage.

From the green flag, both entries settled into a rhythm despite multiple interruptions, including full-course cautions and a red flag for extensive track cleanup. The No. 120 surged to the front during a mid-race stint, with Abbate taking the lead before pit strategy cycled the car back into the top ten. However, a post-incident penalty assessed after race control review dropped the car down the order, requiring another determined recovery drive.

Meanwhile, the No. 119 continued its focus on development and consistency. Traynor delivered her fastest lap of the weekend with a 2:23.4, while the driver rotation maintained steady pace despite losing a lap during a caution sequence. Both cars executed clean pit stops and maintained reliability through the closing stages of the race.

As the final hours ticked down, additional incidents around the circuit brought out further cautions, ultimately leading to a safety car finish. Both AE Victory Racing entries crossed the line having weathered one of the most demanding weekends of the season, with top-10 finishes reflecting both pace and perseverance.

Team owner Erin Vogel reflected on the weekend’s significance beyond the final results: “Road America is a track that demands respect—it exposes everything, from driver confidence to team execution. What I’m most proud of is how this group responded to every challenge. We had penalties, changing conditions, and nonstop adjustments, but no one lost focus. This weekend was about
growth—drivers pushing themselves in high-speed environments, engineers adapting quickly, and the entire team continuing to gel as a unit. That’s how we build something sustainable, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

With another demanding round complete, AE Victory Racing leaves Road America with strengthened driver confidence, valuable data, and continued momentum as the team pushes forward in the 2026 World Racing League season—grounded in its mission to develop talent, foster collaboration, and compete at the highest level.

Top-Five Finish for Hoffmann in GT4 America at COTA

Shift Up Now Athlete Erika Hoffmann earned a fourth-place finish in the Silver Class during round 3 of the 2026 Pirelli GT4 America championship at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Hoffmann piloted the No. 73 Coverly Home Protection and Kaufmann de Suisse Montreal Porsche Cayman GT4 with temporary teammate Riley Dickinson, after a qualifying incident left her usual teammate Jack Parriott unable to participate in the race.

The field also included two other Shift Up Now Athletes, driving for Kellymoss in the Silver class: Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg—both supported by Speedway Motors, PenFed Credit Union, Acumatica, Mobil1, Radius, and Pagid—driving the No. 24 “Be Your Own Hero” Porsche Cayman GT4.

The COTA weekend began with testing on Thursday and two official practice sessions on Friday. The 28-car field spent the time gathering data and dialing in their cars on the 3.426- mile, 20-turn permanent road course.

Qualifying began mid-day on Saturday with Unser behind the wheel of the No. 24 car. She got up to speed quickly and was running in fifth place overall when the session got red-flagged for the incident with Hoffmann’s teammate, Parriott. After a significant crash, the No. 73 chassis was unrepairable.

At first, it seemed that the team’s day was done. However, Connect Invest—one of the car’s sponsors—stepped up to help them compete. Then, when competing-team Nolasport agreed to loan their spare chassis to Kellymoss, the crew went to work. The incredible effort lasted until it was time to roll out to the grid. Hoffmann noted that they actually completely missed pre-grid, getting the car on track with just moments to spare before the race began.

In the meantime, Parriott wasn’t feeling up to competing, so Kellymoss GT3 driver (and GT4 driver coach) Dickinson agreed to fill in, with no testing or practice time. He would be behind the wheel first and—due to causing a red flag in qualifying—would start from the back of the grid.

Instead of the usual two one-hour races, the Lone Star Enduro at COTA was a single, three-hour race that awarded double points. The maximum time at the wheel is 50 minutes per stint per driver, with no double stints allowed.

As the Texas sun set, Unser rolled off the starting grid on the outside of row six. The field ran two-by-two down the front start to the green flag. They then fanned out to four-wide before heading up the hill into the tight first turn.

From her starting position on the outside, Unser got shuffled out wide and off the racing surface, costing her several positions.

Despite zero laps of practice time, Dickinson quickly got up to speed and began moving up through the field. When it came time to swap drivers at the end of the first hour, he had advanced the team to 12th overall.

Freiberg took over for the No. 24 car, running in 15th. Shortly after beginning her stint, a full- course caution for a stopped car on track bunched the field up for the restart. One hour and 45 minutes remained when the green flag flew for the field’s single-file restart.

Both Hoffmann and Freiberg drove clean stints, handing the car over to Dickinson and Unser in 9th and 11th, respectively. The team elected to have Dickinson complete as long of a final stint as allowed, and they cycled up to the lead of the race as other cars pitted.

Hoffmann took the wheel for her final stint running 4th in class (10th overall), with Freiberg just behind her, 5th in class (12th overall). With 20 minutes to go, one final yellow flag bunched the field together for the restart.

Freiberg was forced to retire the No. 24 with just a few laps remaining in the competition, but Hoffmann brought the No. 73 car across the finish line fourth in the Silver class, and 11th overall.

“What a roller coaster of a weekend,” said Hoffmann. “Most importantly, I’m very grateful that Jack is okay after his qualifying incident.

“It was an incredible effort from the team to get a new car prepared in under three hours. We went from thinking we wouldn’t race to fighting for a podium. Huge credit to Riley Dickinson for stepping into a completely new car at the last minute.

“Thank you to everyone at Kellymoss for their hard work, and to Connect Invest for stepping in and making the car swap possible. Also to Coverly Home Protection and Kaufmann de Suisse for their continued support.”

Next up, Hoffmann, Unser, Freiberg and fellow Shift Up Now Athlete Laura Hayes head to Florida for rounds four and five of the Pirelli GT4 America championship, at Sebring International Raceway on May 7-9, 2026.

Second-Place Finish for Lahlouh in GT World Challenge America at COTA

Shift Up Now Athlete Therese Lahlouh earned a second-place finish in the Pro-Am Class—third overall—with teammate Thomas Merrill, for the second event of the 2026 GT World Challenge America presented by AWS series at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Driving the No. 242 Porsche GT3 R car for Wright Motorsports, and sponsored by Byers Auto Group, Mobil1, and PMNA, Lahlouh prepared for a full weekend of track activity, starting with three practice sessions over Friday and Saturday.

Lahlouh had previously competed at COTA in Porsche Sprint Challenge, however this competition would mark Lahlouh’s first time on the 3.426-mile, 20-turn permanent road course in a GT3 car. Despite this, she was able to find more speed with each practice session, and felt confident going into the team’s qualifying effort.

On Sunday morning, Lahlouh set a personal-best time in qualifying. However, an untimely red flag during Merrill’s run stymied their effort and put them on the outside of row eight on the starting grid.

Just a few hours later, the three-hour race began at 12:30pm CST. Lahlouh was behind the wheel as cars ran two-by-two to the green flag. After the start, the field fanned out to three- wide heading into the first turn. They made it through cleanly and then settled into a single-file line. Lahlouh held her starting position in 16th, but after an early full-course caution for a stopped car, she began advancing through the field and into 11th place.

Just 15 minutes into the competition, the Wright Motorsports team elected to go off strategy and take one of their three mandatory fuel stops early. It paid off as a full-course caution flew when Lahlouh was in pit lane, allowing her to catch the back of the pack under yellow.

After the restart, she settled into the top ten overall—sixth in the Pro-Am class. At approximately the one-hour mark, other cars that had not yet pitted began pulling off. This moved Lahlouh up to third overall, which she would hold onto as she bested her qualifying lap time by setting a new personal-best 2:08.2.

Continuing the strategy of back-timing until the end of the race and making moves early, the No. 242 team pitted to swap drivers. Merrill would continue where Lahlouh left off, running fast lap times under green throughout the rest of the competition, and holding onto the third-place overall spot through the checkered flag.

In addition to finishing on the podium, the duo was also awarded the SuperFuel Hard Charger award.

“I am so proud of our results at COTA,” said Lahlouh. “It was a true team effort that took incredible strategy calls, world-class engineering, great driving, and a strong team environment. I’m really happy with my pace and progression, and to stand on a GT3 podium— both overall and in class—in my debut season is a testament to the development that we’ve done over the last three years. I can’t wait for Sebring!”

Next up, Lahlouh and Merrill head to California for round three of GT World Challenge America presented by AWS, at Sebring International Raceway on May 8-10, 2026.

Top 10 Finish for Cook in Porsche Carrera Cup at Long Beach

Shift Up Now Athlete Sabré Cook earned a top-ten finish during race one of the double-header Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Solairus Aviation weekend at the Long Beach Street Circuit on April 17-19, 2026.

Driving the all-white privé products No. 37 911 Cup Car for JDX Racing, Cook was familiar with the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street course, having previously raced at Long Beach during her first year in Porsche Carrera Cup.

The weekend began on a jam-packed Friday with two practice sessions and qualifying under sunny California skies that would continue all weekend long. The first practice session began at 7:45am PST, and Cook was seventh-fastest among the field. During the second session just hours later, more rubber covered the track surface while temperatures rose, but Cook was able to remain in the top ten.

That afternoon, qualifying took place at 4:40pm PST as the sun began to set. Cook had a strong run on her first set of new tires and despite dropping several spots at the end of the session, qualified just outside the top ten.

On Saturday morning, the first 40-minute race began at 9:05am PST. Sunny skies continued, but cooler track temperatures provided more optimal racing conditions. Cook started on the inside of row six, and the field ran two-by-two to the green flag. She had a solid start, and advanced to ninth place through the fountain section of the historic track. She then set her sights on the car ahead and followed closely, but was unable to make the pass, which created a chain of cars from eighth through eleventh.

About halfway through the competition, Cook was still within a half-second of the car ahead, looking to make the pass for eighth. Just seven minutes remained when she was able to fully get alongside the eighth-place car on the outside.

When she was unable to complete the pass, the field settle back into a single-file line through the notoriously-tight hairpin and onto the front straight. Some light car-to-car contact in the mid- pack group caused Cook to get a slower-than-usual exit onto the front straight, which opened the door for the car behind her. She defended into the first corner, but when they reached the fountain, her competitor had the inside line. Cook was forced to concede the position, and dropped back to 10th, where she finished the first race.

Race two began on Sunday at 11:20am PST. This time, track temperatures were above 100 degrees, creating slippery conditions for the 40-minute competition. Cook started in 10th, on the outside of row five. In a repeat of Saturday’s race, she had a strong start, holding her position in the pack. Just before the halfway point, she was passed by a competitor, dropping her back to 11th place. In a race that ran green from start to finish, Cook would maintain position, crossing the finish line just outside a second top-ten finish.

“We had really strong pace to start the weekend, especially in practice and on our first set of new tires, but unfortunately, we just didn’t get the job done in qualifying,” said Cook. “At a tight street circuit like the Grand Prix of Long Beach, track position is everything, and with how narrow the circuit is, it makes it really tough to move forward. We did everything we could to push in the races, but I made a few mistakes that cost us.

“Overall, I’m disappointed with how the weekend played out, but it is my career-best finish at Long Beach, so there are positives to take. I’m trying to stay optimistic—there was a time I would have been thrilled with this result, but now I know we’re capable of more, and that’s what we’re chasing."

Next up, the Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Solairus Aviation series heads to Florida for round 3 of the 2026 season at Miami International Autodrome on May 1-3, 2026.

Victory, Pole Position and Multiple Podiums for AE Victory Racing in Statement Weekend at Thunderhill

Shift Up Now Athletes Laura Hayes, Michele Abbate and Hannah Grisham earned a first-ever overall victory for AE Victory Racing (AEVR), which made an even more impactful statement when they were joined on the podium by three other AEVR teammates and Shift Up Now Athletes—Sarah Montgomery, Ashley Freiberg, and Brenna Schubert—after race two of a double-header World Racing League (WRL) weekend at Thunderhill Raceway Park on April 2-5, 2026.

As just the second event fielding a two-car effort, the series’ debut at the circuit, and nearly half the roster new to the program, the weekend marked a pivotal moment for a rapidly-growing team still finding its rhythm.

Both Toyota Supra GT4 entries took to the track Thursday for Max Track Time on the 3.0-mile, 15-turn East circuit, with Hayes, Abbate and Grisham piloting the No. 120, and Montgomery, Freiberg and Schubert in the No. 119.

Thunderhill’s notoriously abrasive surface and evolving track conditions presented an early challenge, with tire degradation becoming a central focus throughout the Max Track Time test sessions. Drivers took to the track early to familiarize themselves with the circuit, working closely with engineers to review data.

Qualifying on Friday showcased the team’s potential. On fresh tires, Grisham delivered a standout lap of 1:52.9 on her second flyer to secure the team’s first-ever pole position, while Montgomery put the No. 119 car in fourth place for the next day's race.

At the start of Saturday’s eight-hour race, both cars launched strongly, with Montgomery immediately slotting into a one-two formation with Grisham heading into the opening corners. However, just laps into the race, the No. 119 suffered a drivetrain issue, forcing an unscheduled pit stop into the garages. The crew quickly diagnosed a failed guibo and executed repairs with urgency.

Meanwhile, the No. 120 continued to lead significant portions of the race, navigating traffic, cautions, and fuel cycles. In the end, the No. 119 was able to come back out and—due to a few DNFs—complete the race in the points. The No. 120 brought the team their first podium of the weekend when they narrowly missed out on victory in the closing stages, but earned the second-place trophy.

Starting second and third in the seven-hour race on Sunday, both cars executed a meticulously planned endurance race, balancing tire strategy, traffic management, and clean driver transitions. Montgomery delivered a strong opening stint on qualifying tires, skillfully working through traffic to position the No. 119 for Schubert, who would go on to set the car’s fastestlap after rejoining on fresh tires. Up front, Laura Hayes maintained a commanding pace in the No. 120, holding the lead track position and managing pressure during multiple restarts and fuel cycles.

As the race unfolded, seamless pit execution and strategic calls kept both cars in contention.

Driver rotations between Hayes, Abbate, and Grisham in the No. 120 kept the car at the front of the field. A strong start from Montgomery, alongside Schubert and Freiberg in the No. 119, demonstrated the team’s precision and execution as, across both cars, drivers remained consistent in lap times and pace. Late-race fuel strategy proved effective, with both cars making perfectly timed stops in the final minutes to maintain track position.

When the checkered flag fell, AE Victory Racing celebrated a milestone moment: the No. 120 captured the team’s first overall victory, with the No. 119 completing a hard-earned one-two finish.

“What a weekend for us at Thunderhill,” said Hayes. “We faced some unexpected challenges with track conditions that led to significant tire wear, but thanks to smart decisions and strong strategy from the team, we were able to adapt and manage the situation effectively—ultimately coming away with a win and a couple of P2s. Weekends with AE Victory Racing are always a highlight for me, and this was no exception. I’m incredibly grateful to Erin [Vogel] and the entire team for their hard work and support in making it another successful event.”

Grisham echoed Hayes’ sentiment, commenting, “What an amazing weekend for the entire AE Victory Racing team. On Saturday, we brought it home P2, while our sister car, No. 119 was unfortunately hit with some mechanical gremlins. Today we bounced back in the best way possible with a win, and to top it off, the sister car finished P2. It was a huge team effort all around. I couldn’t be prouder to be involved with such an amazing team. I’m looking forward to our next race in just a few weeks time at Road America and hopefully keep the momentum going!”

Abbate added, “What an incredible effort we had this weekend! I am so proud of our team, AE Victory Racing, and I’m stoked on our first overall win in the No. 120 car! It all came down to strategy and Kevin really did a stellar job. It was a pleasure to drive with Hannah and Laura and I’m so super pumped to have helped bring the win home for everyone on the team who have worked so hard! Very well done to our sister car who really put up a fight and earned the P2 finish as well. Excited to carry the momentum to Road America!”

Next up, the six Shift Up Now Athletes on the AEVR team will head to Elkhart Lake, WI for rounds three and four of the 2026 WRL Championship, taking place at Road America on April 24-26, 2026.

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.