Grasser Racing Team, together with GEAR, announced its 100% female driver line-up for its 2020 IMSA campaign.
Grasser Racing previously announced the new partnership with the GEAR Racing project (Girl Empowerment Around Racing) for the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech Championship season, with series frontrunners Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen.
The drivers, last year racing alongside for the first time under the banner of Heinricher Racing in the Acura NSX GT3, will drive the #19 Lamborghini together with two more international female racing stars such as Tatiana Calderon and Bia Figueiredo, to complete another 100% women crew.
Bia Figueiredo, a former Indycar driver and currently racing in Brazilian premiere racing series StockCar, will join Legge and Nielsen at Daytona, Sebring and Petit Le Mans, while Tatiana Calderon will make her debut at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO GT3 at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
"The Rolex 24 is one of the most exciting and challenging races in the world. I’m looking forward to being part of it." - said Calderon, who had her first GT race just over a month ago, as she competed in the last round of the Porsche Supercup championship in Mexico City.
"Coming back to America where I started my international career is quite special. I can’t wait to drive on the famous Daytona banking for the first time!” - she added.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be back at IMSA for 2020 with such a great team." - said Bia. "In 2019, I had the opportunity to race with Katherine and Christina, which was an incredible experience. I am honored to be part of GEAR Racing and I’m confident we will achieve great results. I can’t wait to drive the No. 19 GRT prepared Lamborghini at ROAR [Daytona's testing program] with the girls!"
"We really have a great shot of winning in 2020. I’m also extremely happy that Tatiana is joining us, as I consider her to be a talented young woman and it’s great to have another Latina on the team. I am counting down the days to meet up with Katherine, Christina and Tatiana, and kick off the new season with success!”
Lamborhini powerhouse GRT Grasser Racing will prepare the brand-new Huracan for the all-female crew: the Austrian-based squad comes from back-to-back wins in the Rolex 24 Hours classic, as well as from 2019 Sebring victory, while 2020 will mark the first full season in the highly competitive American series for the team.
"Our team arrived at the shop in Florida last week and has been preparing the car
for the girls." - explained team principal Gottfried Grasser. "I think with the added experience, speed, and professionalism of Tatiana and Bia we have the right package for success.”
Calderon comes from a difficult season in FIA Formula 2, where she became the first ever woman to take part in the highest Formula 1 feeder series. She has previously competed in some of the most important American and European junior formulae and currently holds the position of Development Driver at Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team. Tatiana admitted to Motorsport.com last week that a second year in Formula 2 was unlikely. She will also compete in this weekend's Asian F3 opening round for SevenGP, joining other highly-ranked driver Jamie Chadwick (Absolute Racing).
Bia Figueiredo will also be back on track this weekend, as she ends her 2019 Brasil StockCar season at Interlagos.
In Tatiana's words:
"The Rolex 24 is one of the most exciting and challenging races in the world. I’m looking forward to being part of it."
Cover Ph credits: FIA F2 Media