The post Detota and Warren Climb to the Clouds appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>Chelsmford, MA: 2013 Atlantic Rally Cup winner and all-women team of Erika Detota and Mary Warren will attack the famous road to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire as part of a fifth round of Rally America National Championship series seen on NBC Sports Network.
The historic event, also known as the “Climb to the Clouds” is organized by the Sports Car Club of New Hampshire and will be a 3-day motorsports festival including a 75-car competition field filled with some of the best drivers from around the world. The race is one of America’s oldest motorsports events, first run in July, 1904, twelve years before the inaugural Famous Pikes Peak Hillclimb. The Climb to the Clouds was held sporadically through the years. Following a ten-year hiatus, the Hillclimb returned in 2011 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, first opened on August 8, 1861. The team will drive the same 7.6 mile course, but this year it is nearly 87% asphalt and only 13% still gravel. The challenging road is lined with trees on the lower half with dramatic drop-offs as it winds up to the 6,288 foot summit of the Northeast’s tallest peak – Mt. Washington.
“We are very excited to be invited to such a prestigious event,” said Detota. “Mary and I are honored to be given the chance to test our skills alongside the current record holder. I’m hoping our tarmac experience will help us.”
At the 2011 running of the event David Higgins set a new overall course record of 6:11.54 in a Subaru WRX STi. Detota’s Subaru Impreza 2.5 is not equipped with the same power and traction as Higgin’s, but the team is hoping to record one of the fastest times up for an all-woman team.
“I am interested to see how we do on such a steep incline at the highest altitude we have ever raced” says Detota’s navigator Mary Warren. “We will be writing our own notes for the climb which will be key to carry speed up the mountain.”
Team RallyErika will bring a new sponsor with them to Mount Washington – DriveSafer. DriveSafer, provides the premier teen car control and defensive driving courses in the US, preparing students to control their vehicles in the face of real-world distractions and dangers that take thousands of lives annually. “Last year I started working with the awesome group of people at DriveSafer. It has been amazing to have the opportunity to instruct and help people become better drivers. It’s great to have DriveSafer with me at the Climb to the Clouds.”, says Erika.
Detota’s car is also the only 2WD Subaru in the rally car class. “It is not a perfect set up against the 2WD field racing up the mountain, as our car is build specifically for rally stages, but we are hoping for a good result.”
Rally America portion of the event will consist of almost 27 competitive stage miles. While the other hillclimb teams practice on Friday and Saturday, rally team’s times will count for the final result at the event. The hillclimb will feature an open public paddock where the fans can get an up close look at the cars, meet teams and get autographs.
Team RallyErika is supported by Ruge’s Subaru of Rhinebeck, NY, Keep a Breast Foundation, DriveSafer LLC, Spy Optics, Exedy Racing Clutch, HMS Motorsport, Flat Out Automotive, DBA USA and Whiteline.
Please visit https://www.drivesafer.com for more information
Ruge’s Subaru Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/RugesSubaru
Erika Detota Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RallyErika
For more information about Erika Detota go to www.RallyErika.com
PHOTO CREDIT: JORDAN APGAR
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]]>The post AMY RUMAN CAPTURES ANOTHER TRANS AM VICTORY appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
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Amy Ruman, in the #23 McNichols Chevrolet Corvette, started on pole position at New Jersey Motorsports for the RacingJunk.com 100, Round 5 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship.
Ruman was able to hold that position for the duration of the race, despite multiple challenges from defending Champion Doug Peterson. The win is her first since the 2012 season, places Ruman within 2 points of Peterson for the Championship lead going into the rest of the 2014 season.
“This week has been all about my team, my mom, my dad, everyone that works so hard for me, McNichols, everyone that lets me do what I do,” said Ruman. “I can’t thank everyone enough for all the effort they give me week in and week out. It felt great to start on pole and lead the race, back-to-back wins in New Jersey is pretty cool too—so I guess I really like Thunderbolt track here.”
The race began with Ruman on pole with Peterson, also in a Corvette, alongside and the #59 Simon Gregg in third position. Amy was quick to build a lead during the early laps; but it was Jim McAleese, starting fourth in the #03 Corvette who put on a show during the early laps. McAleese set a crazy pace, shooting up through the field, passing both Gregg and Peterson on the restart on lap 9, the consequence of a brief full course yellow during the start of the race.
McAleese would hold the position for nine laps but was never able to pursue Ruman; busy in a battle with Peterson for the position. Peterson who ran nose-to-tail with McAleese often attempted to overtake McAleese through turn one, only to have the window closed on multiple occasions.
The three would hold their position up to lap 26, when the course went under yellow once more due to a large oil slick in turn six. On the restart, Peterson closed the gap between himself and Ruman, with each driver running their best times of the race.
Ruman was able to fend off Peterson until the checkered flag, in turn capturing her second consecutive victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park, despite finishing the last eight laps of the race without power steering.
“It was an endurance race,” said Ruman. “I knew Peterson would be there when we got the yellow, he was probably being conservative with his tires; I was trying to be as conservative as possible with mine too. At the end, I knew he’d be gunning for me; I didn’t anticipate the power steering problems. I was ok on the straights; but in the corners he caught up with me, so I had to get back on the gas as fast as I could. I don’t know how much longer I could have done that; but you know, I’ve been working out, so we’re good!”
Peterson would finish second, enough to retain his points lead, but only just; as Ruman now remains only two points down from the reigning TA Champion.
“We’re focusing on trying to win this Championship; it’s really a goal of ours,” said Ruman. “I’m excited that we’re back in the hunt for it. It’s basically a new season; I think it’s going to be exciting for the fans and exciting for us. There are six races to go and anything can happen!”
McAleese held on to finish third in the race, his highest finish on the year, while Simon Gregg would come in fourth and Kerry Hitt, in the #19 Advanced Composite Products, finished fifth.
Going into Round 6 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship, the 3Dimensional Services Group Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Doug Peterson remains the TA class points leader with 132 points, followed by Ruman with 130 and Gregg with 122. In TA2, Lawrence increased his tally to 155, with Andretti in second with 125 and Poitras in third with 115. Russ Snow holds the International Group lead with 113 to Tim Gray’s 75 and Berkeley’s 70, while Cassaro continues to lead the American Muscle Group with 128 to Ernie Francis, Jr.’s 116 and Rob Bodle’s 99.
To keep up with Trans Am at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com and on Twitter at @Gotransam.
For more information about Amy Ruman visit her website: www.rumanracing.com
Trans Championship Points after Round 5
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]]>The post Podium Finishes After Well Fought Weekend in Canada for Shea Racing appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>Orlando, FL
Shea Racing ended the Pirelli World Challenge at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park May 16 – 17th with podium finishes, a Sunoco Hard Charger and Optima Battery Best Standing Start Award.
Shea Holbrook, of Groveland, FL, pressured the pole sitter during race one, which served as the makeup race from Barber Motorsports Park making several passing attempts, most notably on Lap 15 into Turn 1 as the Holbrook dove to the inside as the two went door-to-door. Holbrook in her No. 67 TrueCar/Lucas Oil/Radium/Hendrick Honda Civic Si ultimately finished second securing the fast lap of the race with a 1:35.597 putting her on pole for race two. Holbrook led the majority of the race but found herself wide on the outside of Turn 2 losing two positions. She clinched a 3rd place finish. The final race of the weekend Holbrook charged from the back after an incident with the tire wall in Turn 2. Fighting back and turning extremely impressive lap times Holbrook captured another 3rd place finish.
“I don’t think I’ve ever driven like that before. After my wreck I guess I drove like a mad woman. My crew chief, Nick Chorley, kept me focused and made a perfect calculation informing me if I continued to run as fast as we were I’d catch the field with three laps to go. On the final lap I regained two positions to secure third place,” said Holbrook.
Canadian native, P.J. Groenke, in the No. 66 Verax.ca/Tundra/Mulligan Gold Honda Fit began the weekend facing struggles but it was his track experience at CTMP and fierce determination that paid dividends clinching his first podium finish of the season and a Sunoco Hard Charger Award for gaining three positions during the Race 3.
“My home race weekend could not have been filled with more ups and downs…The test and practice sessions went as planned and I managed to qualify 3rd. Unfortunately in my search for the illusive pole position I got extremely loose in Turn 2 and the Verax.ca, Tundra, Mulligan Gold Honda Fit ended up meeting the inside wall at corner exit very hard. Thanks to the hard work of the Shea Racing team, my good friend Sean Asselin, and Chase Pelletier for loaning me the rear axle out of his team’s personal Honda Fit, we managed to start the first race of the weekend from pit lane and secure valuable championship points with an 8th place finish. Regrouped and ready to move forward through the field I had a great start to the second race and only made it to Turn 2 before I had to park the Verax.ca, Tundra, Mulligan Gold Honda Fit due to a broken motor mount retiring the car for the remainder of the weekend. Luckily I was able to secure a ride in the No. 24 4R Motorsports MINI Cooper for Sunday’s race through the much appreciated help from Scott Kuhne. Starting from 7th place I utilized much of my home track experience to move up to 3rd place and secure my first podium finish of the 2014 season. It was amazing to race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first time in over a year and cannot thank everyone enough for helping me achieve my first podium finish in 2014!.”
Paul Holton, rookie from Tallahassee, FL, in the No. 65 Radium/TrueCar/Lucas Oil Honda Fit ran quickest during Thursday’s wet practice sessions with a 1:53.975. Holton’s continued improvement earned a 6th and 7th place finish in the first two races, respectively. Holton’s was awarded the Optima Battery Best Standing Start Award. After an intense three-way battle throughout the race Holton ultimately scored a 5th place finish, his best finish of the season.
“This weekend was a great learning experience for me. While battling for third in the second race I made contact with a competitor causing a flat. I was able to back into the pits where the team did a stellar job of getting me back out on the lead lap finishing 8th. The start of the third race I managed to pick up three positions earning the Optima Batteries Best Standing Start Award! Overall, I’m pleased with my progress and look forward to New Jersey Motorsports Park,” Holton said.
The team currently ranks third in the TCA championship with Shea Holbrook’s 346 points, Paul Holton with 304 points sits in fifth in the TCB championship and P.J. Groenke sixth with 240 points.
Follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and for more information visitwww.shearacing.com.
Watch on TV
MAVTV Special One-hour TC, TCA, TCB Broadcast from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park! Date TBA in June.
About Shea Racing:
Shea Racing is a three-driver, three-car professional auto racing team in the Pirelli World Challenge dedicated to achieving paramount success by providing extraordinary racecars and trackside service, incredible branding and marketing efforts and developing a strong foundation to support talented drivers and to elevate our partners. The 2014 season marks the team’s fifth year racing in the series.
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]]>The post Ramona Roughs through the Second World Rallycross Event appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>By: Erika Detota
The Second World RX competition in Lydden Hill, England, ended up being a difficult one for Sweden’s Ramona Karlsson.
As the first & only woman to race in the championship, she was fresh off of proving herself as a respected competitor in the first round in Portugal by making it to the semi final round. However, she didn’t get the chance to keep building on that success at Lydden Hill. ”I had problems with the installation of the launch control revs” Ramona said. “I was very unsatisfied” she added. She was 4th and 2nd in the two qualifying heats on Saturday, but fell to a 25th place during the race.
By Sunday Ramona’s team had the chance to make some big adjustments to the car which seemed to help her push harder. This momentum quickly came to an end with a flat tire in her heat which caused her to lose control of the car at one point, dropping to 30th overall.
“My goal was to make it to the semi final as I did last competition, so I’m of course disappointed with the result. The positive thing is that we finally found good settings, and that the lap times were improving. This was the first time for me on his track and with this conditions, and sometimes you need to accept that you don’t find the right settings and speed at once. After all, I’ve got valuable experiences from this weekend that I will take with me to next race” Ramona says.
It has been an exciting year for women in Rallycross! Fellow rally driver, Emma Gilmour became the first and only,thus far woman to race in the Red Bull Global Rallycross series. The 2 ladies in paralleling world level championships will hopefully help more women to come into the sport in the future. Both Emma and Ramona got their start in performance rally and have extensive driving resumes, it will be exciting to watch them among their respected rallycross series.
Ramona’s next competition is in Norway in three weeks.
Photo Credit: Johnny Loix
For results, go to www.rallycrossrx.com .
More about Ramona Karlsson Rallycross: www.ramonarx.com/en/
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]]>The post Strong Finish For Ekaterina Stratieva & Carmen Poenaru at Rallye Açore appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>Mission accomplished for FIA European Rally Championship’s leading ladies
Ekaterina Stratieva & Carmen Poenaru returned to the FIA ERC 2WD Championship on SATA Rallye Açores last week and achieved her aim of a finish in the highly competitive category. The historic event is based on the Portuguese island of São Miguel in the Azores and is known to be amazingly picturesque.
Stratieva came home 12th in class, switching from ERC 2WD to the ERC Production Car Cup for two events. She appeared happy to be back in her familiar Citroën C2R2 for the all-gravel event. She recently raced a Subaru AWD car in production class at Acropolis Rally earlier this year.
“I know that I can do more and be better but from other side I must be happy that we get to the finish of this very hard event,” said the Bulgarian. “Like people say – if you want to win first you must arrive to the finish. It was very easy to make mistakes and finish early.”
Co-driver, Carmen Poenaru reckons she could have been higher up the order had it not been for a troubled start to the rally.
“I lose the rally from the first day when I lose a good balance in the brakes and I stop to trust them,” the ERC Ladies’ Trophy leader said. “It was very hard for the first three stages to stay on the road. Then there was a problem with the gearshift and I was waiting a long time for some of the stage to start or not happen. But it was a big pleasure to be in the C2 again and I hope also Carmen enjoyed our moments together.”
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]]>The post Emma Gilmour Debut at the 1st Round of Global Rally Cross appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>“I learned heaps and kept improving throughout the practise, qualifying and heats. Despite the racing being a big learning curve, I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait for the next round at the X Games in Austin Texas on June 7.”
Dunedin-based Emma is now looking forward to getting back into her Vantage-sponsored Suzuki Swift Maxi for the next round of the Brian Green Property New Zealand Rally Championship, driven by VINZ event at the Canterbury Rally June 1 and 2.
EMMA GILMOUR’S 2014 GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
• May 17-18: Barbados, Top Gear Festival.
• June 7: Austin, X-Games.
• June 21-22: Washington.
• July 19-20: New York.
• July 25-26: Charlotte.
• August 2-3: Detroit.
• August 22-23: Daytona.
• September 19-20: San Pedro.
• September 26-27: Seattle.
• November 5: Las Vegas.
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]]>The post The 2014 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles Begins appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>Considered the most prestigious all-women’s motorsport event in the world, 318 women from 25 countries took the start line for the 2014 Gazelle Rally, including four American teams.
Dominique Serra started the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles in 1990 as proof that women can cope in any situation, and to challenge the stereotype that women and the automobile are not compatible. “I could launch a challenge to knit, but I’m not sure it would have the same effectiveness,” she said. Twenty-four years later, the race regularly draws 160 teams.
The rally is split into three class groups: 4x4s, crossovers or SUVs, and ATVs; all three categories follow a different route, but pass the same checkpoints. Each morning, the teams are given coordinates of the day’s checkpoints and finish line, which they navigate with just a compass and a map; the difference between the distance driven and the direct line between the checkpoints is the day’s score. Teams win by driving the least amount of kilometers. With rudimentary navigation equipment — even binoculars are banned, as well as following another team’s course – the event has been said to be more grueling than the Baja 1000 or the Dakar Rally and many have say is the hardest thing they’ve ever done. “The ultimate moving chess game,” media liaison Kirsten Kuhn describes.
Four teams from America will be competing this year. Number 107, Team Hoehn, are sisters from San Diego who recently graduated from Dartmouth College: Jo Hannah majored in art history while Susanah Hoehn studied Roman archaeology. Their family business counts a Range Rover dealership among their 11 franchises; consequently, they will be driving a Range Rover Sport, wrapped in Moroccan tile motife.
JoMarie Fecci, of Team 171, spent most of the 1990s as a photojournalist during conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In 1998, she was one of the first Americans to cover southern Lebanon during Hezbollah control. She teamed up with her navigator, French schoolteacher Isabelle Nikolic, in 2006 on a documentary about Darfur; the two have been embarking on road trips ever since. The pair will be driving a Jeep Wrangler, a vehicle they’re more than familiar with: the duo once drove 10,000 miles across America.
The Xelles of Team 182 are from Bozeman, Montana, and will be driving for Voice Today, a charity that helps sexual abuse victims. Driver Rachelle Croft, navigator Rhonda Cahill, and their husbands take part in a reality Web series called “Expedition Overland,” where they negotiate the Top of the World Highway from Alaska to Yukon in Toyota Land Cruisers.
Team 183, is Indiana Joans. This is the team’s second year running the rally: driver Emme Hall races Volkswagen desert races for Mega Monkey Motorsports. Navigator Sabrina Howells splits her time acting and playing in her band. This year, the team will run an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck with butterfly stickers representing survivors of breast cancer.
You can track any of the teams by going to: http://www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com/en/Rally/2014/live/
www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com
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]]>The post Ekaterina Stratieva Talks About her Rally Future appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>Article Courtesy of Handbrakes & Hairpins www.h&h.com & FIA | Photo: IRC Media
Ekaterina Stratieva is the ERC Ladies Trophy runner up for 2013. We caught up with her to talk about her new Subaru Impreza, her aims for the FIA European Rally Championship and the Acropolis Rally of Greece at the end of March.
Q: What made you become a rally driver?
ES: “It was my childhood dream! One day, maybe when I was around five or six years old I saw one French female crew in Bulgaria on an international event. This was the moment that I said to myself that one day I want to be also like them.”
Q: What’s the best thing about driving rally cars?
ES: “For me it’s amazing when I am driving and I can feel the car. We are in balance and I can play or dance with the car and the notes from my co-driver Carmen Poenaru sound like a song. In moments like this the feeling is amazing and we are like three in one.”
Q: What is your greatest achievement in rallying so far?
ES: “Hmmmm… I have lot of moments that are special for me and I will remember all my life, but maybe the cherry on the cake was in 2012 when I won the Richard Burns Award. At that moment I was the first female and also the first Bulgarian driver that won this prize. It was an amazing moment for me!”
Q: What’s the best thing about the ERC? (European Rally Championship www.fiaerc.com)
ES: “The challenge that I face. Every time there is a new place! Every rally is completely different than the other! Every year the ERC and Eurosport try to find something new and to grow rally sport.”
Q: What’s your target for this season?
ES: “To do my best. God will do the rest.”
Q: What’s your ambition for the future?
ES: “My ambition is finally to have luck with Carmen so we can participate on another level. Like all other crews, we need one serious sponsor.”
Q: How has your season gone so far?
ES: “This year my season didn’t start so good. The Jänner Rallye was not our best event and in Latvia unfortunately the car was with problem from the first stage. But we never give up! Like I like to say: things that don’t kill me make me stronger! We are positive with Carmen and we hope for better luck on the Acropolis Rally.”
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]]>The post Susie Wolff to drive an F1 car for Williams appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>The post Susie Wolff to drive an F1 car for Williams appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>The post Simona De Silvestro is in the chase of her Formula 1 Dream appeared first on Female Racing News | News about Women in Motorsports.
]]>Simona de Silvestro will be an affiliated driver with Sauber this year with a goal of competing for a Formula One seat in 2015.
The IndyCar Series will lose one of its brightest and most popular stars this season as she pursues the dream that has motivated her since childhood. If all goes well, Simona de Silvestro could find herself on the Formula 1 grid in 2015, and to give herself the best chance to succeed, the 25-year-old will dedicate the rest of the year preparing for a Grand Prix future that comes with no guarantees.
Coming off her fourth IndyCar season, one where the native of Switzerland recorded her best finish of second at Houston Round 1, the former KV Racing driver will embark on an intensive track testing regimen with the Ferrari-powered Sauber F1 team.
The Swiss team recruited de Silvestro for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas last October, aiding Sauber and the F1 series with its F1 in Schools program. From that firsthand interaction, a plan was hatched to bring two of Switzerland’s biggest names in motor racing together with the goal of preparing de Silvestro for a future race seat.
“F1 for me has always been my dream and my ultimate goal,” de Silvestro told RACER. “The opportunity that has presented itself with Sauber is pretty huge, and when something like this comes around, it’s special. It certainly doesn’t come around often.”
Asked if she was prepared to make the leap from IndyCar to F1, de Silvestro answered quickly and with confidence: “It’s a big jump, but I’m ready to do this.”
Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn was pleased to bring de Silvestro on board as an ‘affiliated driver,’ in deference to the unique program that will involve fitness training, simulator training and a significant amount of on-track testing.
“After four years in IndyCar, Simona’s ambition is to enter Formula one in 2015,” said Kaltenborn. “We regard her as a very talented race driver, and we, therefore, decided to take her on board as an ‘affiliated driver’ and support her on her way to the pinnacle of motorsport.”
Sauber’s program for the 2010 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year is centered prepping de Silvestro to gain her Super License, which she’ll need to take part in Grand Prix events. The tentative plan would see de Silvestro’s private testing program immediately after the Chinese GP on April 20.
The goal is to conduct between eight and 10 days to prepare her for official testing at Barcelona after the Spanish GP. If all goes well in Spain, she’d qualify for her Super License, allowing de Silvestro to partake in Friday Grand Prix practice at one or more events later in the year.
With her Super License in hand, the door would be open for de Silvestro join Sauber (BELOW, LAT photo) in a race seat next year. News regarding the commercial support for the initiative is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
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