A technical problem just the before the Final in Chile saw Rosberg X Racing miss out on valuable points, while their nearest championship challengers closed the gap. Ahead of the final round of Season 2 in Uruguay, we caught up last year’s championship winners to check out their preparations ahead of the title decider.

After topping Qualifying at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix in Chile before a dominant Semi-Final 1 performance, Rosberg X Racing (RXR) looked on course to get the result they needed to secure back-to-back Extreme E titles.

However, a rare mechanical failure ensured they were unable to take part in the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix Final – the first time RXR out have missed out on a Final appearance in Extreme E. Worse still, Nico Rosberg’s outfit had to watch their championship rivals pull back valuable points ensuring the title battle is now a four-way fight ahead of the Season 2 finale in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix will mark a fascinating contest, as RXR look to secure their second Extreme E championship in a row with challengers X44 Vida Carbon Racing, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team and No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing in hot pursuit.

Despite the team’s Extreme E pedigree, their woes in Chile ensure RXR may not be entering with all of the upward momentum after sitting out the Final last time out.

Nevertheless, since the series’ inception in 2021 they have been the benchmark in the championship having won five of the nine X Prix to date.

So, how will the team fare in Uruguay and will drivers Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky be changing anything in their driving style for the final round of 2022?

Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “Our team has proven that we have great pace, and we’ve worked really hard this season to remain on top. We still have a healthy lead in the championship, and I’m looking forward to regrouping ahead of the final race in Uruguay.

“We’ll be bringing our a-game and hope to make the dream happen there.”

Not only are RXR serial winners in Extreme E, but they have also demonstrated their outright speed in Qualifying in 2022 making the team even more formidable.

However, given what is at stake at the Uruguay Natural X Prix, could we expect a more cautious approach out on course?

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, added: “There’s definitely a lot at stake going into the final round of this season. You do need to be cautious and not always take big risks, but I just want to get back behind the wheel and give it my all. In Extreme E anything can happen so it’s important that we remain focused, stay on our toes, and do the best that we can do.”

Find out if RXR claim back-to-back Extreme E titles at the Season 2 finale, the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix in Punta del Este, Uruguay, on 26-27 November.

To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com

About Extreme E:

Extreme E is a radical new racing series, which will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower carbon future for the planet.  

To minimise local impact, Extreme E races will not be open to spectators, with fans instead invited to follow the action through live TV broadcast, and on social media. 

The St. Helena, a former passenger cargo ship, has undergone a multi-million Euro refit to minimise emissions and transform her into Extreme E’s operations hub. The ship will be used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including vehicles, to the nearest port, minimising Extreme E’s footprint, as well as being used to facilitate scientific research through its on-board laboratory.

Extreme E is also pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology which will enable its race fleet to be charged using zero emission energy. This innovative solution from AFC Energy uses water and sun to generate hydrogen power. Not only will this process emit no greenhouse emissions, its only by-product will be water, which will be utilised elsewhere on-site. 

Season 2 Calendar:  

Neom, Saudi Arabia
19-20 February 2022
Sardinia, Italy
06-07 July 2022
Sardinia, Italy
09-10 July 2022
Antofagasta, Chile
24-25 September 2022
Punta del Este, Uruguay
26-27 November 2022

About Continental Tires: Founding Partner and Official Tire Partner

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. Continental generated preliminary sales of €37.7 billion in 2020 and currently employs more than 235,000 people in 58 countries and markets. In 2021, the company celebrates its 150th anniversary.

The Tires business area has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 56,000 employees and posted preliminary sales of €10.2 billion in 2020 in this business area. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the Tires business area includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.

About ENOWA

About ENOWA: ENOWA is a world-class energy, water and hydrogen company founded in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. ENOWA produces and delivers clean and sustainable resources for industrial and commercial applications using a customer-centric smart and connected system, designed to be circular and takes advantage of NEOM’s optimal solar and wind energy profile. ENOWA benefits from NEOM’s greenfield site, which has no legacy infrastructure, to advance Energy, Water, and Hydrogen innovation. 

ENOWA will act as a catalyst and incubator for developing new, sustainable energy and water businesses while creating a robust economic sector regionally. Through its commitment to renewable energy and efficient water management, ENOWA seeks to become a global reference for industry leaders and setting a benchmark for sustainable economic circular systems around the world.For more information, please visit enowa.neom.com

About NEOM: NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation.

NEOM will include hyperconnected, cognitive towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in groundbreaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity.

For further information email media@neom.com or visit www.neom.com and www.neom.com/en-us/newsroom

About CBMM: Founding Supplier

CBMM is the world leading supplier of niobium products and technology. Headquartered in Brazil, with offices and subsidiaries in China, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States.

CBMM offers technical innovation to customers around the globe through a team of over 2,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals providing cutting-edge niobium products and technology to over 400 clients in around 40 countries.

About PANGAIA

PANGAIA is a materials science company on a mission to save our environment. We are a global collective of one heart and many hands — scientists, technologists, designers — creating essential products from innovative tech and bio-engineered materials.About LVRSustainable
LVRSustainable is the section of LuisaViaRoma that offers a carefully curated selection of the best sustainable brands and carries out special collaborations with non-profit entities, charitable organisations, and brands to support social and environmental causes. LVRSustainable aims to build a global sustainable community and to promote supporting conscious fashion based on the following criteria: organic, vegan, fair trade, eco-friendly, women’s empowerment, community engagement, recycling & upcycling, and luxury craftsmanship.

About LuisaViaRoma
LuisaViaRoma is one of the world’s leading online luxury fashion retailers. Founded in 1929 by the Panconesi family with the opening of a small hat boutique on Via Roma in Florence, to then creating LUISAVIAROMA.COM in the 2000s it became the first online fashion platform to combine an avant-garde concept store with a strong digital presence. Currently, over 230 people from all over the world work at LuisaViaRoma. Based in Florence, the company ships to over 120 countries and closed 2020 with a turnover of approximately 180 million euros, of which over 90% resulting from online sales and over 75% from purchases by international customers.

About Zenith: Official Timekeeper and Founding Partner

ZENITH: TIME TO REACH YOUR STAR.

Zenith exists to inspire individuals to pursue their dreams and make them come true – against all odds. Since its establishment in 1865, Zenith became the first watch manufacture in the modern sense of the term, and its watches have accompanied extraordinary figures that dreamt big and strived to achieve the impossible – from Louis Blériot’s history-making flight across the English Channel to Felix Baumgartner’s record-setting stratospheric free-fall jump. Zenith is also highlighting visionary and trailblazing women – past and present – by celebrating their accomplishments and creating in 2020 its first-ever collection dedicated entirely to them, Defy Midnight.

With innovation as its guiding star, Zenith features exceptional in-house developed and manufactured movements in all its watches. Since the creation of the El Primero in 1969, the world’s first automatic chronograph calibre, Zenith has gone on to master fractions of the second with the Chronomaster Sport and its 1/10th of a second precision and the DEFY 21 with a precision of 1/100th of a second. Zenith has been shaping the future of Swiss watchmaking since 1865, accompanying those who dare to challenge themselves and break barriers. The time to reach your star is now.

About Allianz: Founding Partner and Official Insurance Partner

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with more than 100 million private and corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 790 billion euros on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage 1.7 trillion euros of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are amongst the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2020, over 150,000 employees achieved total revenues of 140 billion euros and an operating profit of 10.8 billion euros for the group.

About Vodafone Business: Official Technology and Communication Partner

With expertise in connectivity, global scale and the leading IoT platform, Vodafone Business is a leading technology communications company helping organisations succeed in a digital world and keeping society connected. Vodafone’s purpose is to connect for a better future, enabling an inclusive and sustainable digital society, and many of its solutions have sustainability and inclusivity embedded.

Unique in its scale as the largest pan-European and African technology communications company, Vodafone transforms the way we live and work through its innovation, technology, connectivity, platforms, products and services. Vodafone operates mobile and fixed networks in 21 countries, and partners with mobile networks in 52 more.  As of 31 December 2021, they had over 300m mobile customers, more than 28m fixed broadband customers and over 22m TV customers.

This collaboration will see Vodafone Business leading innovations and capabilities such as 5G, MPN, IOT and MEC, integrated into Extreme E’s global operations and will include full involvement in the purpose- driven elements of the series, with special prominence on Extreme E’s Legacy Programmes and the Science Laboratory on board the St Helena.Through its IOT solutions, Vodafone Business is helping sustainability efforts, including agriculture, forestation and decarbonisation of energy grids.

Find out more on http://www.Vodafone.com/business  and follow Vodafone on its social media channels:

Twitter: @VodafoneGroup

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone

About ALLCOT:

ALLCOT Group, Extreme E’s Official Environmental Credit Supplier, provides innovative project development, carbon markets, and sustainability advisory services since 2009. Allcot’s unique approach is based on using Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, its linkage to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), non-market approaches, and other market mechanisms.

ALLCOT Group aims to lead and accelerate the global transition towards a climate-neutral society by 2050. ALLCOT provides knowledge and expertise to implement climate change intervention initiatives and carbon projects that rely on nature-based and technology-based approaches.

ALLCOT supports firms and public bodies in developing their own emission reduction initiatives by providing consulting services for various carbon quantification standards (CDM, VCS, GS), as well as for various sectors (forestry, waste, renewable energy, transportation, sports).  The entire carbon credit value chain is encompassed by these consulting services created under the Paris agreement.

To learn more about ALLCOT, please visit www.allcot.com

About Neat Burger: Official Vegan Partner

Neat Burger is one of the world’s fastest growing plant-based sustainable burger chains, backed by key investors Formula 1 Champion and X44 Extreme E team owner, Lewis Hamilton, and actor and environmentalist, Leonardo DiCaprio.
Established in 2019, Neat Burger has achieved not only a loyal fanbase but industry recognition too, having won for a second year running the UK’s Best Vegan Restaurant of the Year at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards and it was nominated for the 2021 GQ Food & Drink Sustainability Award. Most recently, the brand was awarded PETA’s inaugural Company of the Year Award for its game changing approach to plant-based diets, encouraging people to eat delicious, protein-packed plant-based meals.

As part of its mission to create a sustainable future, Neat Burger is working with Eden Reforestation Projects on its large-scale reforestation initiatives. In 2021, Neat Burger funded the planting of over one million mangrove trees in Madagascar.

About EY: Official Innovation Partner

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

About INTERprotección: Official Insurance Broker

INTERprotección is composed of a group of Mexican insurance, reinsurance and surety bond brokerage companies. With global presence and recognition, INTERprotección has more than 40 years of experience in management and comprehensive risk consulting in the Mexican market. Its business model is focused on bringing the client to the forefront and offering them the best service through innovative and disruptive products, more recently with its new brand ​inter.mx,​ its insurance digital platform that is transforming the insurtech game. Follow INTERprotección on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter ​@I​NTERproteccion

About Enel X Way: Official Smart Charging Partner

Enel X Way is the Enel Group’s new global business line entirely dedicated to electric mobility. Currently, Enel X Way manages approximately 320,000 charging points, both directly and through interoperability agreements in place worldwide1. As a global platform for e-mobility, the company is focused on developing flexible charging technologies and solutions to improve the customer experience by supporting the electrification of transport for consumers, businesses, cities and public administrationsFind out more on https://enelxway.it/en/home  and follow Enel X Way on its social media channels:LinkedIn:  Enel X Way

Twitter: @enelxway

Instagram: @enelxway 

Facebook: @enelxway

¹ Public and private charging points, including points of interoperability.

About XITE ENERGY: Official Energy Drink Partner

XITE ENERGY was founded by Oliver Bennett and Megan Jones straight out of university two years ago. XITE brings disruptive innovation within the beverage industry; a new frontier to energy drinks. Designed around functionality but with no limitations on health, XITE ENERGY uses functional ingredients that are fused together to provide a cognitive boost, combining natural flavours, natural caffeine and zero sugar.

(Torrance, CA, November 10, 2022) The California Lightning Sprint Car Series will wrap up its 28th season of racing with four races next week. The first race will be the “6th Annual Western States Lightning Sprints Championship” at Scott Schweitzer’s Bakersfield Speedway on Tuesday, November 15th. That race will be the final points race for the CLS in 2022. It will also be the final of the annual “Civil War Series” featuring the CLS versus Northern California’s Bay Cities Racing Association. After that, the club will journey north for the last three races of the year at the annual “Hangtown 100” at the Placerville Speedway on November 17th, 18th, and 19th.

Three key positions in the standings will be decided in Bakersfield on “The West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” The overall championship will come down to a pair of young drivers. Defending series champion David Gasper of Santa Barbara is first in the championship standings. He has a 77-point lead over Palmdale’s Eric Greco going into the event. Camarillo’s Cody Nigh has third place pretty much locked up. However, Yucca Valley California Highway Patrol officer Jeff Dyer and five-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills are tied for fourth.

In the battle for the championship, Greco’s main event average finish at Bakersfield this year is 3.5. Sixteen-year-old Gasper’s average finish is 4.25. Gasper broke before the main event and did not compete in the season opener on March 25th. At the club’s second appearance at the track, he broke again and was forced to drive someone else’s car to a 10th-place finish in the A main. In addition to the 10th-place result, Gasper has a fifth and has won the last two races at the track. Greco’s best finish at Bakersfield was a second, and he placed third two times.

Like Gasper, Michnowicz had a disastrous first two stops at Bakersfield this year when he broke before the mains. To top that off, he did not make it to the third race of the year at the track. In the last two races there, the driver who will celebrate his 59th birthday at the track on Tuesday has a pair of second-place finishes. Dyer has had a good season at the oval that is affectionately referred to as the “Okie Bowl.” In five starts he has not placed worse than fourth. He came home second one time and finished in third and fourth two times each. That gives him a fine 3.2 finishing average at the track this year. That is the best among the CLS regulars who have started at least three of the races at the facility in 2022.

Another top-10 battle that will be decided on Tuesday will also determine who is the rookie of the year. Going into the last race in the series at Ventura two weeks ago, Fillmore’s Connor Speir was 6th in the championship standings and fellow rookie Will Browne of Glendora was seventh. Speir had a 72-point advantage over Browne heading into that contest. However, Browne’s fourth-place finish combined with Speir’s 11th narrowed the advantage to 39-points. Each of the freshmen has started all five races at Bakersfield this year. Brown’s best finish was a fourth and Speir’s best was a seventh (two times). Speir’s finishing average at the track is 11.00, while Browne’s is 7.20.

Tuesday will also be the final of five races in the “Civil War Series.” CLS drivers man the first five positions and BCRA racers make up sixth through 10th. Like the regular season CLS championship point standings, Gasper is the point leader in the CWS with Greco second. Gasper, who won the triple crown last year winning the “Civil War Series,” and CLS titles as well as being named Rookie of the Year, is 63 points ahead of Greco. Michnowicz is third and trails Greco by 18-points. Browne ranks fourth and is only 13 points out of third with Nigh in fifth.

Starting in 2017, the “Western States Lightning Sprints Championship” has seen four different winners in its first five years of existence. Indiana’s Andy Bradley won the first one and was followed by Kingsburg’s Doug Nunes in 2018. Michnowicz won two in a row in 2019 and 2020. Last year San Diego’s A.J. Bender, a rising star in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, took the Western States title driving for Sexton Gatlin racing.

Bender, who won two CLS races at Bakersfield earlier this year driving for Mike Schweitzer, will be driving for Sexton Gatlin Racing again on Tuesday. Joining him will be new POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Brent Sexton and his 18-year-old son Grant. The younger Sexton won the season opener at Bakersfield in a photo finish on March 25th. Brent has CLS wins at Santa Maria on August 6th and Mohave Valley on October 8th.

After one night off, the CLS drivers will head north for the three-night “Hangtown 100” at the Placerville Speedway. The non-points event will be co-sanctioned by the BCRA. Last year, USAC racing star Logan Seavey of Sutter, California won the opening night and the finale on the red clay ¼ mile oval. Sandwiched in between was a victory for Colorado Springs, Colorado star Chris Crowder. Bender, who finished second on all three nights of the 2021 “Hangtown 100” last year, will be in Schweitzer’s #41 Lightning Sprint at Placerville. He will also be driving the #1 LKK midget he steered to fourth in the championship standings and to the “Rookie of the Year” honors in this year’s USAC Western Midget Series.

Tuesday’s show at Bakersfield will also include the “November Classic” for the USAC National Midgets. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00. Fans can save $5.00 per ticket by ordering in advance at https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/1113. The historic track is located at 5001 N. Chester Ext. in Bakersfield. The track website is https://www.bakersfieldspeedway.com/ and the office phone is (661) 393-3373.

Advance tickets for Placerville are available at https://www.eventsprout.com/event/hangtown-2022. Gates will open at 3:00 p.m. each day with racing at 6:00. Fans can find the track at 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville. The website is https://www.placervillespeedway.com/ and the track phone is (530) 344-7592.

California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings

1. David Gasper – 2045
2. Eric Greco – 1968
3. Cody Nigh – 1812
4. Jeff Dyer – 1716
5. Bobby Michnowicz – 1716
6. Connor Speir – 1456
7. Will Browne – 1417
8. Jon Robertson – 1193
9. Pat Kelley – 1111
10. Dominic Del Monte – 784

Civil War Series Point Standings

1. David Gasper – CLS – 514
2. Eric Greco – CLS – 451
3. Bobby Michnowicz – CLS – 433
4. Will Browne – CLS – 420
5. Cody Nigh – CLS – 385
6. Greg Dennett – BCRA – 383
7. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 358
8. Harlee Aguilera – BCRA – 331
9. Matt Land – BCRA – 329
10. Brandon Leedy – BCRA – 302

The following companies have become marketing partners with the CLS in 2022. They have offered up more than $13,000.00 in contingencies that will be awarded on top of the regular racing purses and they will be paid out throughout the year. Yoshimura R&D, Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, Saldana Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Speed Mart, Cold Fire West, West Evens Motorsports, RC Fuel Injection, Jake Swanson Shock Technology, Advanced Racing Suspensions, CSI Shocks, Eibach Springs, Triple X Race Components, King Racing Products, Hyper Racing Products, Rebel Gears, Vahlco Wheels, Wilwood Disk Brakes, Fuel Safe Systems, MPI, Circle Track Performance, E-Z UP, Hepfner Racing, Smith Titanium, and Hoosier Speed.

If you or your company would like to become a partner of the longtime racing organization, contact Jon Robertson via email at mailto:jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050.

2022 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule

March 25 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Grant Sexton

April 2 Merced Speedway Non-Wing –– Civil War #1 – David Gasper

April 16 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender

April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged (Make Up Main) David Gasper

April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz

May 14 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender

May 21 Ventura Raceway Winged – Eric Greco

June 11 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – David Gasper

June 25 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper

July 9 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper

July 23 Ventura Raceway Winged – Dave Gasper

August 6 *Santa Maria Raceway Winged – Brent Sexton

August 26 Silver Dollar Speedway Winged – Civil War #2 – Connor Spier

August 27 Placerville Speedway Winged – Civil War #3 – Bobby Michnowicz

Sept. 10 Lemoore Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz

Sept. 24 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Civil War #4 – David Gasper

October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged – With SWLS – Brent Sexton

October 29 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz

Nov. 15 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – With USAC Midgets – Civil War #5

Nov. 17 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets – No Points

Nov. 18 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets – No Points

Nov. 19 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets – No Points

To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints

PAST CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS

1994 Tony Everhart

1995 Gary Sexton

1996 Rob Sczymczak

1997 Jon Rahe

1998 Chris Rahe

1999 Brent Sexton

2000 Greg Bragg

2001 Greg Bragg

2002 Greg Bragg

2003 David Cardey

2004 Keith Janca

2005 Johnny Bates

2006 Donny Gansen

2007 Shane Rossen

2008 Brent Sexton

2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr.

2010 Jarrett Kramer

2011 Tim Brown

2012 Bobby Michnowicz

2013 Stephen Limon

2014 Bobby Michnowicz

2015 Bobby Michnowicz

2016 Bobby Michnowicz

2017 Bobby Michnowicz

2018 Jarrett Kramer

2019 Jarrett Kramer

2021 David Gasper

Phoenix, AZ (10 November 2022) – The Heart of Racing hosted nine female finalists at the APEX Motor Club in Arizona this week, testing the girls’ performance on and off the track through two days of testing, The selected driver will race an Aston Martin for the team in GT4 competition next season.

Nine racers – Jessica Bäckman (SWE), Chloe Chambers (USA), Hannah Grisham (USA), Nicole Havrda (CAN), Jem Hepworth (UK), Chelsea Herbert (NZ), Rianna O’Meara-Hunt (NZ), Sara Misir (JAM), Annie Rhule (USA) – from all around the globe and with a wide range of racing backgrounds convened just outside of Phoenix Arizona at the all-new APEX Motor Club for two days of testing onboard three of The Heart of Racing’s Aston Martin Vantage GT4s.

The judges for the two-day test focused on candidates’ overall pace, aptitude in and out of the car, willingness to learn, their response and engagement with data reviews, changing driving styles, and how they gelled with their fellow team members and competitors.

On-track activity for Day 1 consisted of getting familiar with the GT4 car with the nine drivers split between three Aston Martins. The focus was working on driving technique and the specific nuances of the track while lapping on Pirelli tires that has gone through multiple hat cycles.

Drivers debriefed with The Heart of Racing’s three coaches: 2022 IMSA WeatherTech GTD Champion, Roman De Angelis, Alex Riberas and SRO driver Gray Newell.

“We made it clear to the drivers that we were not going to be testing them purely on lap time and speed,” said Ian James. “We really wanted to see how they got on in the car and what their progression was going to be like over the two days. Seeing a big improvement from Day 1 to Day 2 was just as important as being quick in the car.”

In addition to testing their on-track capabilities, the girls took part in media interviews, demonstrating their ability to speak on several topics of conversation.

Day 2 saw a more structured agenda with each candidate receiving their own set of new Pirelli race tires, allowing each of them to learn about tire management in a classic race weekend setting. The first session saw the drivers perform a 15-minute qualifying simulation, getting used to taking first laps on new slicks.

The second session was Race 1 simulation lasting 25-minutes on the same set of tires that they had qualified on. The final session of the day, was a Race 2 simulation with another stint on the same qualifying and Race 1 tires.

“We didn’t really know what we were walking into with this new project and it has so far been a very enjoyable process,” said Riberas. “It’s so cool to be able to work with such young drivers that actually like to do everything you ask them to in terms of coaching. And to see them actually apply it, you’re able to see how much they improve and how happy they get about improving, so you see the whole evolution. For me, it’s a proud project that The Heart of Racing has decided to do.”

“I think all the women have done a fantastic job, making it very difficult for us to pick one,” said De Angelis. “We expected a few of them to have their quirks or not be as strong as the others, but everybody has done such a fantastic job and been strong on and off the track, which is important to us. I think as a team, everybody’s done a really good job executing these two days. It’s not a very easy thing to have three cars running full-time for two days to give everyone the same chance. I think the team’s done an excellent job of doing that.”

The Heart of Racing will now review the nine candidates’ on-track and off-track performance with one candidate being selected within the next week. The winner will be given a full-season GT4 ride with The Heart of Racing team.

The Heart of Racing Female Shootout Candidate Thoughts:

Jessica Bäckman (SWE):

“I think I have developed a lot over the two days and it has been a very fun experience. It was really good to see how much grip you get with the new tires. The shootout has been a very, very fun learning experience. I’ve never been to a shootout like this before. It’s very fun to actually be around a lot of female racers because normally at the race track I’m the only female. It’s a bit different, but I’m very happy to be here and to have this experience.”

Chloe Chambers (USA):

“I’ve definitely learned a lot about the car and about the track and just working with this team in general. I think it’s been a very productive couple of days. The shootout has been a great experience. Obviously, learning the car has been very beneficial to me and the shootout – compared to other shootouts that I’ve done – has been super low stress. Everyone’s sort of having fun, it’s like a family. I think it’s been very good for the people participating in the shootout to have an experience like this.”

Hannah Grisham (USA):

“I’m thankful for the opportunity The Heart of Racing has given me. I’m really happy to have been selected with some talented drivers. I think the shootout in general has been really great. I’ve been to a couple shootouts and I think a big thing is how relaxed the whole team made everyone feel which was super amazing. Everyone on the team is super helpful, very nice and welcoming and has been really great.”

Nicole Havrda (CAN):

“The shootout has been a very good environment with lots of great people. I learned a lot and developed each session. It’s just been a very fun two days. I think that the shootout is well planned out and very organized. It’s great to encourage women for the seat and by The Heart of Racing bringing women in motorsports it’s helping them develop and have a path for their career.”

Jem Hepworth (UK):

“The shootout has been incredible so far. I got used to the car steadily and kept getting quicker and quicker in each session. It was also about managing old tires but I kept it clean and did some good lap times. Personally, I thought Day 1 was a really, really good day for me. I kinda went out there straight away and was on pace, so I was really proud of that.”

Chelsea Herbert (NZ):

“I think I’ve really impressed myself and that’s sort of all I’m aiming to do at this test, is to race against myself and block out everyone else. I don’t get too tied up in all the nitty gritty of what everyone else is up to. As Ian (James) said when he first mentioned the shootout to me is ‘it’s a trip to America and you get to drive some cool cars’ and that’s exactly how I’ve taken it. It’s been so much fun learning this car, learning this track, and being around nine females that can race just as well as each other. Just a really supportive team and a really supportive environment, it has been great. Everyone’s positive, everyone’s happy to help. It is pretty much all you could ask for in a shootout.”

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt (NZ):

“The shootout has been really fun for me so far. I came over thinking that it was going to be quite stressful and a lot of pressure. You obviously put pressure on yourself to perform at the level you know you can perform back home, but I’ve been able to control my nerves really well and I’ve been really enjoying the process. The process itself has been a new experience. The race simulation though has been very different for me, something I haven’t had to think about before. So just making sure I’m smart about what I’m doing in each session.”

Sara Misir (JAM):

“I’m very happy with how the shootout has gone so far. I’ve set certain goals for myself every time I’ve gone out and I’ve achieved those goals. I’ve learned something new every time I’ve gone out, so I couldn’t ask for a better weekend. I think the shootout has taught me a lot in terms of peak performance, every time I get on the track I have to be 110% focused to learn as much as I can in a short distance. It’s also taught me to be a little more self aware in terms of not worrying about what’s going on around me. Just focus on yourself and do your own best because that’s all anyone can do.”

Annie Rhule (USA):

“The shootout has been so much fun. Alex (Riberas) and Roman (De Angelis) have been really nice about helping me figure the car out. It’s been a learning curve for sure. I feel like I’ve been understanding what Roman and Alex have been telling me. I’m improving every session. It’s just a confidence thing with the car and having little car experience makes it a little bit difficult, but I think we’re starting to get a hang of it.”