Freiberg, Montgomery and Carter claim back-to-back WRL podiums for all-female AE Victory Racing
- RACERS
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Sarah Montgomery, Ashley Freiberg and Alana Carter became the first all-female team to secure a GTO class podium at the sixth round of the 2025 World Racing League at Road Atlanta — and then did it again the following day, securing AE Victory Racing's best finishes in the series to date.
Shift Up Now athletes Sarah Montgomery, Ashley Freiberg and Alana Carter became the first all-female team to secure a GTO class podium at the sixth round of the 2025 World Racing League at Road Atlanta — and then did it again the following day, securing AE Victory Racing's best finishes in the series to date.
Driving the #119 AE Victory Racing Toyota Supra GT4 EVO2, the trio earned third place in Saturday’s eight-hour endurance race and followed it up with a second-place finish on Sunday in a physically damanding doubleheader weekend.
“This weekend is both the culmination of two years of effort and also the beginning of so much more success", said team owner Erin Vogel. "We've been building a program and a team since 2023, and honing in on what it takes to make a positive environment for both driver and team development."
Porsche Carrera Cup North America racer Ashley Freiberg joined full-season AE Victory Racing drivers Montgomery and Carter as a substitute for Vogel an accomplished racer who has taken on the role of team owner, and is now expecting a baby in December. The new lineup came into Road Atlanta eager to capitalize on the pace the team had shown in the previous round at Daytona, where a late-race collision from another car had denied them a podium despite top-three pace throughout the event.
Road Atlanta brought its own set of challenges: the technical 2.54-mile, 12-turn circuit, coupled with intense heat, demanded a clean execution; the team used Thursday’s sessions to get all three drivers comfortable in the car and began Friday qualifying with high hopes. In an ultra-competitive GTO field, the positions down to 12th place were separated by a few tenths a second. A 1:32.2 lap time earned the team 11th in class and 20th overall, securing a spot in the mid-pack for Saturday’s eight-hour contest.
Under clear skies on Saturday morning, the green flag waved with Sarah Montgomery for the opening stint of the race, who expertly navigated a chaotic first hour that featured multiple full-course cautions and a red flag. She climbed six positions to place the team in fifth before handing off to canadian racer Alana Carter.
Carter continued the momentum, advancing to third before Ashley Freiberg took over just before midday. By the race’s halfway point, Freiberg had worked her way into the lead. As pit strategies played out and the hours wound down, the team held on for a hard-earned third-place finish—their first podium of the season and a historic first for an all-female team in the GTO class.
The team returned on Sunday with confidence and determination to replicate race one's performance.
Once again in scorching temperatures, Sarah Montgomery led the charge with a 90-minute opening stint, setting a steady pace in the early hours of the seven-hour race.
With the competition even fiercer and the heat more oppressive, the team faced their toughest test yet; Montgomery alternated with Freiberg and Carter over the next hours, before the team enlisted the support of Laura Hayes—another Shift Up Now athlete—who happened to be at the track assisting with race strategy. Hayes stepped in for a one-hour stint to provide relief for the team and keep the Supra in contention.
Carter was tasked with finishing the final stint, and she delivered under pressure, crossing the line in second place to secure a second consecutive podium for AE Victory Racing's trio.
“This weekend was an every-emotion weekend,” said Montgomery. “It was incredible to see us on the podium for both races after knowing the hard work everyone has put into this. The heat was strenuous but every single person on the team was able to push through as we crave victory. I’m grateful to be a part of this team and am looking forward to getting the win soon!”
"The strength of effort from everyone that's been involved over the past two years has been inspiring, and there are more people to thank for our arrival here than I can list in one acknowledgement - just know how much I love and appreciate you all”, Erin Vogel concluded, reflecting on the milestone achievement.
With momentum and morale at an all-time high, the team now looks ahead to the next World Racing League round of the 2025 championship at High Plains Raceway in Colorado, scheduled for August 29–31.
