All-female AE Victory Racing secures Eastern Championship with Sebring victory and four podiums
The all-female AE Victory Racing team enjoyed a highly successful weekend at Sebring, claiming four podium finishes across the two World Racing League races, securing the overall victory for the Grisham, Abbate and Carter trio.
The all-female AE Victory Racing team enjoyed a highly successful weekend at Sebring International Raceway, with its two Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 entries, claiming four podium finishes across the two World Racing League races.
The team secured a 1-2 qualifying result, including the first pole position for the #119 crew of Freiberg, Montgomery and Schubert, before finishing second and third on Saturday and returning on Sunday to claim the overall victory for the Grisham, Abbate and Carter trio and runner-up spot for the sister car.
The results also secured the Eastern Championship for the #120 crew of Alana Carter, Michele Abbate and Hannah Grisham, with the #119 of Ashley Freiberg, Brenna Schubert and Sarah Montgomery finishing second in the championship.
Both entries showed strong pace from the outset, establishing themselves as contenders at the front of the GTO field, with the #119 Supra particularly competitive throughout the weekend, setting the stage for a pair of closely fought races.
Saturday's contest became a strategic challenge as rain arrived during the final hours. AE Victory Racing elected to remain on its existing tyres rather than switch to wet-weather tyres, a decision that became increasingly costly as the conditions deteriorated. The #87 Stoic Racing Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 opted for the alternative strategy and gained a significant advantage in the closing stages, working its way between the two AE Victory Racing cars before taking the lead and holding on to win.
Despite missing out on victory, both AE Victory Racing entries managed the increasingly difficult conditions to secure podium finishes. The #119 driven by Freiberg, Montgomery and Schubert crossed the line in second place, followed by the #120 sister car in third, giving the team a strong foundation for Sunday's race.
The race also highlighted the progress of the driver lineup. Schubert delivered quick, consistent stints and showed greater confidence navigating traffic, while Carter adapted quickly to Sebring despite making her debut at the venue. She maintained her pace over longer stints and applied nutritional strategies developed through the team's Driver as CEO programme, including carbohydrate planning in the days leading up to competition.
Sunday brought an even stronger result, with both cars once again demonstrating their pace and consistency. Although several rivals challenged during the opening stages, mechanical problems among competitors gradually changed the picture at the front. Clean pit stops and consistent running allowed AE Victory Racing to establish a gap over the field, with pit-lane execution proving particularly important as the team managed perfectly fuel consumption over the race distance.
The decisive moment came during the final stages, when fuel strategy determined the outcome of the battle between the two team cars. The #119 had held the lead, but its stronger pace through the middle portions of the race increased its fuel consumption. Without a late caution period to offer an opportunity to adjust the strategy, the team determined that the car would require an additional fuel stop.
The #120, meanwhile, had conserved enough fuel to attempt to reach the finish without stopping again. Hannah Grisham managed the closing stint carefully, bringing the car to the chequered flag without an additional pit stop to win the race. The fuel alarm illuminated on the final lap, showing just how closely the team had calculated its remaining fuel.
Montgomery also delivered a strong performance in the #119 Toyota, but the additional stop ultimately cost the car the lead. Both entries remained ahead of the third-place finisher and were the only cars to complete the race on the lead lap. The #120 took the overall victory, with the #119 finishing second to secure a memorable one-two result for AE Victory Racing.
The Sunday success also confirmed the Eastern Championship for the team, with the #120 finishing first and the #119 second in the standings. AE Victory Racing continues to lead the National Championship, adding further momentum to its two-car Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 programme.
Beyond the results, Sebring provided another opportunity for the team to put its driver development philosophy into practice. The programme combines competitive seat time with technical education, mentorship and preparation designed to help drivers make informed decisions behind the wheel.
Carter and Schubert were among those to deliver particularly strong stints, demonstrating both pace and consistency. Carter also sought guidance from team owner Erin Vogel on interpreting data and identifying areas for improvement, helping her establish specific goals for her first time racing at the circuit. These exchanges reflect the team's commitment to developing drivers who understand not only how to drive the car, but also how technical systems and data influence performance.
The Sebring results add to a season of strong performances from both Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2 entries. With the Eastern Championship secured in first and second place and the team continuing to lead the National Championship, AE Victory Racing now turns its attention to the final race of the year at Circuit of The Americas, while also beginning preparations for 2027.
Meanwhile, the team remains focused on creating meaningful opportunities for women in motorsport through funded seat time, professional coaching, mentorship and education, while seeking partners who share its ambition to expand opportunities for women to compete at the professional level.
