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| Shea Holbrook |
Shea Holbrook drives for her own team named Shea Holbrook Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series. She currently has one win this season racing in the TC category. Her #67 Honda Civic Si is sponsored by K&N Air Filters. Shea is a big Muscular Dystrophy advocate, participating in multiple fundraisers that help fund the research to help end Muscular Dystrophy. Here is my first interview with her!
How did you get introduced to racing?
Well, I don’t really have the traditional story of grandpa and dad racing their whole lives and passing the wheel over to me. The first half of my life I was a competitive water skier spending much of my time training on the water. At one point, water turn to pavement! My dad showed interested in racing cars and thought, family sport? I got bit by the racin’ bug when I was 16 in the passenger seat of a ride along in the Richard Petty Experience. I then went on to obtain my SCCA license and since then have been road racing competitively all over the nation with many organizations, from sprint races to 25 hour enduros and today pro racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.
Describe the racing series you are driving right now?
The Pirelli World Challenge Series is an exciting, high energy, high profile production-based series that races alongside with the IZOD IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS.) What makes the series so interesting in the mutli-class, standing start, sprint race. There’s three races (Grand Touring, Grand Touring Sport, and Touring Car) happening within the one 50 minute race. This calls for drama! Drivers of different classes must learn to somewhat work together as the speed differentials are very dramatic. The Pirelli World Challenge Series brings us all around the United States and Canada, from road to street courses. The series enjoys great media exposure, including TV coverage on the Versus Network and print media coverage in some of the most respected motorsports magazines in North America. Two things in particular I enjoy the most in the series are the Formula 1 style standing starts and how the series brings us to some of the most prestigious street courses in America.
Are you having much success this year, and what race do you look forward to driving in the most?
This year has been very interesting for us. When we perform, we give 110%. Due to a lack of funding we have not made it to all the races. But when we do, we prove we can be on top. The first race of the season in St. Petersburg I had an amazing start gaining 4 positions and when I was setting up to make a pass for 6th place a huge Touring Car wreck happened in front of me ultimately collecting my car. I was able to get into another Honda for round 2 starting dead last due to bringing in a new race car and finished 8th in a car I had never been in. The race that I looked forward to the most was the Long Beach Grand Prix. Again, in another car, I was a bit nervous about this race and I had never raced there before. Unsatisfied with my performance on track during practice and qualifying, I said a silent prayer asking for a break. I ran my fastest lap times during the race, drove smart and confident which was ultimately the winning formula! I won my first professional race at the Long Beach Grand Prix!
Do you do anything special to prepare yourself for each race?
I don’t really have anything crazy that I do or any rituals, just one simple thing in particular. A team meeting in which we discuss or goals for the race. I pride our team in how family oriented, driven and supportive we are of each other. It’s a great ego booster knowing that your team fully believes and supports your efforts.
Is there a certain major racing series that you are wanting to drive in one day?
IndyCar! I love the diversity, atmosphere, competitiveness, and fan base.
I seen you have picked up some new sponsors, has there been any momentum picked up since then?
All the partners I’ve had this year have been the leading reason to my success on track. With their support, the whole team has been able to reach goals and break barriers. I have a very different relationship with each partner paving a road to success for both parties. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. But it’s not. I’m still hungry to make it and looking for a long-term partnership.
What are your plans for next year? Have you looked into finding a ride in another series?
My plan is to be in the seat. As for plans for next year and looking for rides in other series, I just want to be in the seat! I’m optimistic and excited for what the 2012 season brings.
Well, I don’t really have the traditional story of grandpa and dad racing their whole lives and passing the wheel over to me. The first half of my life I was a competitive water skier spending much of my time training on the water. At one point, water turn to pavement! My dad showed interested in racing cars and thought, family sport? I got bit by the racin’ bug when I was 16 in the passenger seat of a ride along in the Richard Petty Experience. I then went on to obtain my SCCA license and since then have been road racing competitively all over the nation with many organizations, from sprint races to 25 hour enduros and today pro racing in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.
Describe the racing series you are driving right now?
The Pirelli World Challenge Series is an exciting, high energy, high profile production-based series that races alongside with the IZOD IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS.) What makes the series so interesting in the mutli-class, standing start, sprint race. There’s three races (Grand Touring, Grand Touring Sport, and Touring Car) happening within the one 50 minute race. This calls for drama! Drivers of different classes must learn to somewhat work together as the speed differentials are very dramatic. The Pirelli World Challenge Series brings us all around the United States and Canada, from road to street courses. The series enjoys great media exposure, including TV coverage on the Versus Network and print media coverage in some of the most respected motorsports magazines in North America. Two things in particular I enjoy the most in the series are the Formula 1 style standing starts and how the series brings us to some of the most prestigious street courses in America.
Are you having much success this year, and what race do you look forward to driving in the most?
This year has been very interesting for us. When we perform, we give 110%. Due to a lack of funding we have not made it to all the races. But when we do, we prove we can be on top. The first race of the season in St. Petersburg I had an amazing start gaining 4 positions and when I was setting up to make a pass for 6th place a huge Touring Car wreck happened in front of me ultimately collecting my car. I was able to get into another Honda for round 2 starting dead last due to bringing in a new race car and finished 8th in a car I had never been in. The race that I looked forward to the most was the Long Beach Grand Prix. Again, in another car, I was a bit nervous about this race and I had never raced there before. Unsatisfied with my performance on track during practice and qualifying, I said a silent prayer asking for a break. I ran my fastest lap times during the race, drove smart and confident which was ultimately the winning formula! I won my first professional race at the Long Beach Grand Prix!
Do you do anything special to prepare yourself for each race?
I don’t really have anything crazy that I do or any rituals, just one simple thing in particular. A team meeting in which we discuss or goals for the race. I pride our team in how family oriented, driven and supportive we are of each other. It’s a great ego booster knowing that your team fully believes and supports your efforts.
Is there a certain major racing series that you are wanting to drive in one day?
IndyCar! I love the diversity, atmosphere, competitiveness, and fan base.
I seen you have picked up some new sponsors, has there been any momentum picked up since then?
All the partners I’ve had this year have been the leading reason to my success on track. With their support, the whole team has been able to reach goals and break barriers. I have a very different relationship with each partner paving a road to success for both parties. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. But it’s not. I’m still hungry to make it and looking for a long-term partnership.
What are your plans for next year? Have you looked into finding a ride in another series?
My plan is to be in the seat. As for plans for next year and looking for rides in other series, I just want to be in the seat! I’m optimistic and excited for what the 2012 season brings.
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