Shift Up Now Athlete Michele Abbate announced plans on Thursday to join BC Race Cars for 2022 in the Trans Am TA2 Series presented by Pirelli.
Abbate, who owns and drives for Las Vegas-based Grr Racing, made her first and only National Tour debut in 2020 with BC Race Cars at Road Atlanta where she had two top 15 finishes during the double-header weekend.
Abbate will be the only full-time female driver in the Trans Am TA2 Series.
“The National Tour series has been my goal for many years now, and I cannot put into words how honored I am to be racing with such a talented and proven team like BC Race Cars,” said Abbate. “I learned so much during my time with them and I am ecstatic about what’s to come in 2022.”
Abbate spent the past two years competing in the Trans Am West Coast Series. The American driver made history by becoming the first female to lead laps in a TA2 race and earn a podium finish (Sonoma Raceway, 2020). In addition, she was voted Trans Am’s Fan Favorite Series Driver since the inception of the award.
Anthony Philleo, Abbate’s husband and Grr Racing Crew Chief, will also be joining the BC Race Cars team for the full season.
BC Race Cars Founder and Owner, Blaise Csida, shared, “Penny, I and the entire crew at BCR are so excited to have Michele and husband Anthony join our team in 2022.
“We were utterly impressed in 2020 by their enthusiasm, talent, and work ethics; they embody our goals and inspirations on a professional as well as personal level. We are confident we can provide the car, preparation, and engineering needed to be successful in this ultra-competitive Trans-Am TA2 series.”
The Trans Am TA2 Series season kicks off on February 24-27, 2022 at Sebring International Raceway.