Touring Car Archives – Horsepower & Heels

Michele Abbate earned podium finish

May 10, 2017 // by Horsepower & Heels

SCCA touring car racer Michele Abbate earned podium finish at Buttonwillow Raceway this past weekend for Rounds 5 and 6 of the Western Conference Division SCCA US Majors Tour. The track configuration was a new one, as the series ran the 25 Clockwise configuration, offering high speed sweepers, no bus stop, and the star Mazda turn. Michele had never run this configuration, but looked forward to giving it a shot. With two weeks to plan for the event after returning from their trip down under to the Bathurst 6 Hour in Australia at Mount Panorama, things in the states hadn’t slowed down.

In fact, upon the return of the GRR Racing team, new partnerships arose with perfect timing. While working closely with the Pedders Racing team, Abbate fell in love with the set up of their right hand drive Toyota 86.

I am so very thankful and grateful to now be partnered directly with Pedders Racing and their US distrubuter, 3PConnect!”, Abbate shares.

The GRR Racing Toyota 86 is now equipped with Pedders Suspension including the external reservoir set up. The team had a very busy week leading up to the race. Including an unexpected motor swap, followed by an unexpected transmission pull, after their full suspension changes — they had their hands full!

Special thanks to Grant at Pedders Racing Australia for help with our baseline set up”, Crew Cheif Anthony Philleo notes.

Shaking the car down in the first qualifier, Abbate and Philleo decided to try out the car without the rear wing. Michele quickly discovered she preferred having the extra rear grip, especially through riverside. The team qualified P2 in GT-1 but was facing engine issues.

It’s unfortunate that we had to swap back to our old [hurt] motor; but we didn’t have any other option,” Anthony explains.

Michele drove as smart as she could and she was able to bring the car to the checkered flag with a P2 finish, being the first Toyota 86 to ever podium in GT1 in the SCCA. Although the circumstances were not ideal, the team worked hard and they felt rewarded for their efforts.

A great accomplishment we have been chasing all year”, Abbate shares.

For Sunday, GRR Racing prepped the car as best as they possibly could to prevent further issue with the motor. Although, late to grid and started at the rear of the pack; Abbate played it cool for the entire race.

My goal was to see that checkered flag, so I did everything I could to keep the car happy”.

Ultimately GRR Racing capture another P2 podium finish bumping them into the 2nd place position for the Western Conference division, trailing the leader by just 16 points.

“Our purpose of running GT1 this year with our 86 is to qualify for National Run Offs for the GT1 program that is being built”, Anthony confirms.

The team has done just that and is excited to be making progress up the ladder of motorsports. The next SCCA US Majors Tour event is set for the beautiful Pacific Northwest at Portland International Raceway on May 20-21st. Fans can tune into all of the action on the live stream at www.M1cheleAbbate.com/live

Shea Racing announces 2017 schedule

March 24, 2017 // by Horsepower & Heels

Touring driver, Shea Holbrook and her team, Shea Racing announces 2017 schedule to kicking off another season of Pirelli World Challenge racing.

This weekend, the team has a scheduled test session with suspension partner, KONI Shock Absorbers at Sebring International Raceway. They will follow up with a second test session before the season opener at Virginia International Raceway, April 28-30^th.

Fielding 4 Honda entries this season, Shea and returning teammate Jason Ficher will compete in the Accord Touring Cars. Tom O’Gorman and a yet-to-be-announced 4th driver will team up to campaign Honda Civic SIs in the TCA category.

With the team and series growth we look forward to a successful year both on and off track,” says Holbrook.

Shea Racing 2017 schedule

April 28-30, Virginia International Raceway
May 19-21, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
May 26-27, Lime Rock Park
August 11-13, Utah Motorsport Campus
September 1-3, Circuit of the Americas
October 13-15, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Shea Holbrook is ready for Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

May 17, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Six-time event winner and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car class competitor Shea Holbrook is ready for Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend. Her Shea Racing team will compete in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships May 19-22 at the Durham, ON race facility.

The Shea Racing team has seen both success and defeat at the high-speed 10-turn road course. Both Shea Holbrook and teammate Jason Fichter have made podium appearances previously at the daunting track, and hope for repeat performances in the Touring Car class this weekend.

Cool Jobs in Sports – espnW feature

Holbrook was recently honored with a special feature in espnW Magazine’s “Cool Jobs in Sports” spotlight. Shea shared her career path in motorsports, including her start as a competitive water skier, and how a NASCAR ride-along changed her direction.

She also shared her experiences as a cross-over driver into the IHRA Drag Racing scene, and what driving a jet-powered dragster to her first win was like.

In addition to her responsibilities as Shea Racing team owner and driver, the University of Central Florida graduate also is an instructor for the SCCA Track Night in America program. The program is an easy and inexpensive way for nearly anyone who loves cars or motorsports to get on a racecourse in their own vehicle on a weeknight. As Track Night coordinator, Holbrook provides driving advice to participants, coaching them to improve their skill and performances.

Shea Holbrook returns to touring

February 2, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Multi-discipline driver Shea Holbrook returns to touring car racing to campaign a two-car team of Honda Accord V6’s in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) championships. The 6-time PWC winner climbs back into a Touring Car seat after a successful season of drag racing a 250+ mph jet dragster in the IHRA Nitro Jam Series with Larsen Motorsports. Her Shea Racing teammate will be 2015 Trans Am TA3 “Rookie of the Year,” Jason Fichter.

The 2016 season marks Shea Racing’s seventh year competing in the various touring car classes, their first year back since 2012.

With the help of our partners and successes in the TCA and TCB classes we’re ecstatic to be back in the Touring Car class with 2016 Honda Accord V6’s alongside my new teammate, Jason Fichter. We certainly look forward to getting these cars on track and are grateful to our partners, the crew and Honda Racing HPD for providing the momentum we needed during the off-season to make this possible,” said Shea Holbrook, co-owner and driver.

Holbrook took the podium twice at Circuit of the Americas last season between events in her 14-race schedule driving the IHRA Jet Dragster. Anxious for her return to a full season in PWC, she is set to pilot the No. 67 BUBBA Burger, Lucas Oil, KONI Shock Absorber Honda Accord.

I am incredibly thrilled to be representing BUBBA burgers, the household freezer brand with 100% additive free meat for our all-natural products. As well as, Lucas Oil, our American manufacturer and distributor for automotive oil, additives, and lubricants and KONI Shock Absorbers, the world’s leading manufacturer of shock absorbers for the OEM and aftersales market,” said Holbrook. “This is a pivotal year for the team as our partnerships and technical relationships are the backbone of our operation.”

The Shea Racing team has expanded their technical partnerships this season to include CCW Custom Wheels and Rims, and will debut the newly launched TS12 Corsair R-Spec wheels engineered for track performance on the Accords. Shea’s Accord will also be outfitted by MOMO’s safety gear and driver cockpit components.

Both Shea Racing entries will exert braking confidence with StopTech High Performance Brake Systems STR-40 four piston Trophy Race Calipers. CoolShirts Systems will maintain driver safety and comfort by keeping the Shea Racing drivers cool with the Pro Air and Water System. Heeltoe Automotive has also joined the team as the official Performance Parts Supplier of the Shea Racing Accord duo.

The first outing for the Shea Racing team will be the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge season-opener March 4-6th at the Circuit of the Americas.