AE Victory Racing end WRL season with top-5 in COTA, finish championship in third
- RACERS
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All-female team AE Victory Racing concluded its second year in World Racing League with a solid performance at the championship finale at Circuit of The Americas, securing third place in both the Eastern and National Championships with Sarah Montgomery, Alana Carter and Ashley Freiberg.
All-female team AE Victory Racing concluded its second year in World Racing League with a solid performance at the championship finale at Circuit of The Americas, securing third place in both the Eastern and National Championships after a determined effort by Sarah Montgomery, Alana Carter and Ashley Freiberg across a demanding two-race weekend.
The COTA finale served as a fitting end to a season marked by growth, a broadened driver development platform and the team’s continued push to advance women and emerging talent in motorsport. With team co-owners and founders Erin Vogel and Aaron Snair remaining home ahead of the arrival of their new baby, the program welcomed additional leadership at the track. Kale Fortenberry and Jim Malicki stepped into new operational and strategic support roles, helping the team throughout the high-pressure weekend.
Drivers first hit the track on Thursday for the Max Track Time session, a crucial opportunity to fine-tune the Toyota Supra GT4 after a DNF at Watkins Glen. Mixed weather limited early running, but clearer afternoon conditions allowed for productive progress. Ashley Freiberg quickly established the pace with a 2:20.96, while Alana Carter turned her first laps at the 20-turn Grand Prix venue, pairing track time with extensive data review to accelerate her adaptation.
“Our setup work was really productive today,” said Freiberg. “We made a lot of positive adjustments and I enjoyed working with Kale and Jim. It felt like a growth moment for the team.”
Sarah Montgomery took qualifying duties on Friday, navigating heavy traffic typical of WRL’s season finale. With support from a spotter stationed atop COTA’s iconic tower, she found space to run cleanly and secured P6 on the grid.
Saturday’s eight-hour race opened with a massive 74-car field. Montgomery wasted no time, charging from P6 to P4 in class on the opening lap before a succession of incidents triggered nearly two hours of neutralization.
Despite the interruptions, AE Victory Racing remained in podium contention, using smart strategy during red flags and full-course cautions while maintaining consistent pace in the green-flag stages. The team climbed as high as second late in the middle stint before a restart issue on pit lane cost time.
Montgomery set the team’s fastest lap, a 2:22.46 on Lap 23, and after a full day of hard-fought running, the #119 Toyota Supra GT4 finished in fifth place in the GTO class.
Sunday’s seven-hour contest began under clear skies, with Montgomery again charging through the field in the early laps. Strong pit work and good pace put AE Victory Racing back into the podium fight, and the team rose to P2 midway through the race.
However, a green-flag driver change and refuelling with two hours remaining left the Supra vulnerable when a full-course caution emerged shortly afterward, allowing the field to cycle past and placing the team one lap down. The AE Victory Racing's Toyota ultimately finished sixth, collecting crucial points that secured AE Victory Racing’s third place in both season-long championships.
“This weekend wasn’t just about results,” team co-founder Erin Vogel said from home. “It represented how much stronger and more capable this organization has become. To finish third in two national-level championships in only our second season is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
The finale showcased the program’s steady progress over the two seasons in World Racing League, as AE Victory Racing aims to continue this momentum into 2026, preparing for its second driver shootout and expands to a two-car program. Over 40 entries from all over the world submitted to the selection.
“I’m so proud of the way this team has come together this season and fought hard for every finish,” said Montgomery. “To claim third in the championship is a well deserved reward for the amazing efforts of every single person on this team."
"I’m proud of Alana and the growth of the development program and I look forward to continuing our efforts for next year. We certainly missed having Erin with us this weekend but I want to thank Kale and Jim for stepping in, my family for their endless enthusiasm this season and of course my sponsors Team One Logistics and Lafayette Travel for their support.”
Carter, who won the inaugural driver shootout, reflected on her own development through the program: “Finishing the 2025 season with AE Victory Racing is very bittersweet. I’ve had the most amazing year with them and it was awesome putting together everything I learned this year for the final race of the season. The race was so chaotic and intense but honestly some of the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel. I can’t thank Erin and the team enough for the opportunity they gave me this year, it was truly a dream come true.”
Freiberg echoed the pride felt across the garage. “This weekend was hard fought and I think we're all pretty pleased that we got to third in the championship", said the experienced racer. "I love being a part of the passion and vision of everything Erin is building with the team and the development program. I'm glad we have the results to show for it and I'm looking forward to being a part of the shootout and continuing the momentum for 2026.”
With a year of major strides behind them and further expansion on the horizon, AE Victory Racing ends 2025 on a high, in a program committed to continue provising crucial opportunities to underfunded female talents in the sport.
