Sebring WRL Race with AE Victory Racing - Audi R8 LMS GT4
This weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to race at the legendary Sebring International Raceway with Shift Up Now by AE Victory Racing, thanks to Erin Vogel, the team owner and driver. I was thrilled to get behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT4 for the first time, and even more excited to join forces with my new teammates—Sarah Montgomery, Laura Hayes, and Erin Vogel herself—all of whom are trailblazing women in motorsports.
Thursday and Friday were dedicated to practice. In my first session, I focused on getting acquainted with the Audi R8 LMS GT4, exploring its braking capabilities and pushing the limits of the tires. From the very first lap, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face under my helmet. A car with real downforce, serious power, and paddle shifters?! It felt like a dream come true!
By the end of the first day, I had one of the fastest laps and was starting to feel right at home in the car. I guess the saying holds true: if you can drive a Mazda MX-5 Cup car fast, you can pretty much jump into anything and be okay! To be honest, I was a bit nervous at first—stepping into a car with significantly more power than I’m used to. But after just a few laps, I felt completely comfortable and in control.
With an amazing, supportive team behind me, we spent time going over data, strategy, and practicing driver changes. During driver change drills, we rehearsed everything from helping the other driver out of the car to undoing their radio cord and window net. We also practiced jumping into the car, adjusting our seat padding, securing our belts, and working together to get ourselves settled quickly and efficiently. The goal was simple: to make sure that come race day, we could execute a smooth, fast driver change and minimize any time lost during the race.
Saturday’s 8-hour endurance race kicked off with our driver order set: Sarah would go first, followed by me, then Erin, and finally Laura. My job was to help Sarah out of the car, complete my 1 ½-hour stint, then come down pit lane, loosen my belts, and be ready to jump out and help Erin into the car for her turn. I was ready.
Halfway through Sarah’s stint, I had my suit on and was fully prepared. When it was time, I lowered my visor and got ready to jump over the wall and do my job. The driver change happened so quickly—one moment I was sitting in my chair under the tent, and the next, I was strapped into the car, speeding down pit lane.
Halfway through my stint, I began having issues with the steering wheel not responding properly to my shifting inputs. Unfortunately, I couldn’t drive around the problem, so we had to bring the car in to avoid risking further damage. After some time in the pits, the team identified the issue and was able to fix it, allowing us to continue the race.
After Race 1, the team was relieved to have solved the issue, allowing us to get back on track. On Sunday, we lined up for another 7-hour race, focused on earning strong results. With the same driver order as the day before, we were ready to take on the challenge once again.
Unfortunately, we encountered the same electrical gremlins during Race 2. While we had hoped for a better outcome to the weekend, I focused on the positives. I gained valuable seat time, experienced different setups on the car, and—most importantly—got to drive a GT4 for the first time ever! It was a dream come true.
Being part of a team like this and working together with teammates in an endurance race, where success depends on more than just one person, has always been something I’ve been eager to experience. I’m incredibly grateful to Erin Vogel, owner of Shift Up Now by AE Victory Racing, for giving me the opportunity to showcase my adaptability and skills both in and out of the car. This race has been an eye-opener and a great addition to my racing resume!
November 10, 2024
