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The Engineer Racer: Sabre Cook

October 16, 2025

From karting in Colorado to racing on global stages like the W Series and Porsche Carrera Cup, Sabre’s journey is a masterclass in grit, grace, and gear-driven ambition.

Photo courtesy Sabre Cook, Sabrecook.com

Sabre’s story begins with motocross roots – her father raced professionally in the ’80s, and her birth coincided with a Supercross Sunday. Racing wasn’t just in her blood; it was in her bones. At eight, she swapped two wheels for four and dove into karting, quickly discovering that motorsport wasn’t just a hobby – it was her calling.

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But Sabre didn’t stop at the track. She pursued a mechanical engineering degree, becoming a first-generation college student and proving that speed and smarts aren’t mutually exclusive. Her analytical mind now fuels her performance, from detailed debriefs to data-driven race strategies.

As one of the few women in open-wheel racing, Sabre faced the challenge of carving out space in a male-dominated arena. “You learn to create your own seat,” she says. Her journey through USF2000, Indy Pro 2000, and the W Series wasn’t just about lap times – it was about resilience, representation, and rewriting the rules.

Sabre’s engineering background gives her a unique edge. She logs every test session with precision, balancing her technical insights with the instinctive feel required to drive at the limit. “You have to let your subconscious take over,” she explains. “The conscious mind is always slower.”

Spotlight

2023 – First Female to Race in Porsche Carrera Cup North America
2022 Kelly-Moss Porsche Carrera Cup Scholarship Winner
2021 & 2022 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship Runner Up
2021 Only Female to Podium in Porsche Sprint Challenge
2021 1st Place NLS 8 Nürburgring Cup 5 Class Win
2020-2021 The only American to qualify for W Series
2019-2021 Qualified for and Competed in W Series
2019 3rd Place & Fast Lap in W Series Assen Reverse Grid Race
2017 Team USA Scholarship Finalist- First Female
2016 US Open Shifter Elite National Champion
2015 3rd Place US Open Shifter Elite National Championship
2015 Member of Team USA for the Rotax Grand Finals
2015 Challenge of the Americas DD2 International Champion
2014 Maxspeed & Mazda Road to Indy Scholarship Winner
2014 First Female to Qualify for a KZ World Championship Main Event
2013 Women in Sports Foundation Project Podium Grant Recipient
2012 SKUSA S2 National Champion- First Female
3x TAG USA World Champion
8x Colorado State Karting Champion

Synopsis

This episode of Break/Fix features Sabre Cook, a trailblazing figure in motorsports, discussing her journey from karting in Colorado to competing in elite racing series like the W Series and USF 2000. Sabre’s background in mechanical engineering has complemented her racing career, allowing her to analyze and enhance her performance. Despite motorsports being a male-dominated field, Sabre has successfully navigated its challenges, backed by strong family support and her own perseverance. The episode also highlights her involvement in programs like the Porsche Motorsports North America Female Driver Development Program, emphasizing the importance of sponsorship and mentorship. Sabre shares insights on balancing racing with engineering, her support system, and advice for aspiring female drivers. The show underscores the evolving landscape for women in motorsports and Sabre’s role in inspiring the next generation.

Can you take us back to your earliest memories of karting in Colorado and what first sparked your passion for racing?
Why Mechanical Engineering? How did your background in mechanical engineering influence your approach to competing on the track?
How do you see technology and engineering continuing to shape the future of motorsports?
Moving from karting to lower formula racing requires a big jump in financial commitment. What’s the most challenging part of putting together sponsorships? Do you think sponsors still hesitate to fund women drivers at the same level as men?
Competing in the W Series put you on a global stage—what was that experience like both personally and professionally? Was it a matter of dialing up the intensity, or was it a completely different beast?
Now that you’ve switched to the Porsche Cup series in the last few season; what has that transition been like from open-wheel to production based racing?
Who are you watching right now in karting and the lower series? Who should we be keeping an eye on?
So what’s next for Sabre? What are your goals? Endurance Racing, possible Le Mans?

Transcript

Lauren Goodman: [00:00:00] Welcome to Women of the Autos Sphere. On Break Fix, we dive into the stories of trailblazers, engineers, racers, designers, and disruptors who are shaping the automotive and motor sports industries. From the pit lane to the boardroom, from concept sketches to championship podiums, these women are driving change breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation.

Whether you’re a lifelong gearhead, a curious newcomer, or someone who simply loves a good story. You are in the right place. This is more than a podcast. It’s a movement.

Crew Chief Eric: On this episode of Break Fixes Women of the Auto Sphere series. We’re thrilled to welcome Sabra Cook, a true force in Motorsports whose journey is as inspiring as it is impressive

Lauren Goodman: from her early days.

Karting a Colorado to breaking barriers in open wheel racing. Sabre has proven herself both on and off the track. She’s not only competed in Elite series like the W Series USF 2000 Entity Pro 2000, but she’s [00:01:00] also balanced her racing career with a background in mechanical engineering, working with some of the biggest names in the automotive industry, in a sport where talent, tenacity and technical skill must work in perfect harmony.

Sabra embodies the full package paving the way for the next generation of women in racing, and we’ll dive into her path, her perseverance, and her vision for the future of motor sports.

Crew Chief Eric: And joining me tonight is returning co-host Lauren Goodman, associate curator of exhibitions at the Revs Institute, and one of the many personalities here at the Motor Inc Podcast Network.

So welcome back. Good to be here. And with that, let’s welcome Sabra officially to break fix.

Sabre Cook: Hi guys. I feel so inspired and like so good after that introduction. Like you guys should just come be my pep talk team before I get in the race car. Like that was great. Well be the flavor. Flave. The fla, the Flavor Flav.

You gotta wear the giant clock though.

Crew Chief Eric: Well Sabra like all break Fixx stories. There’s a super heroine origin story out there. So take us back to your. Earliest memories of carting in Colorado. And what first sparked your passion for racing? Did you come from a racing family? [00:02:00]

Sabre Cook: I did. I was super lucky to have a pretty cool dad.

He used to race motocross and Supercross professionally back in the eighties, and he and my mom did not want me racing motorcycles. So compromised with four wheels ’cause it’s much safer. So I appreciate that. Now I have a lot less broken bones than I probably would have otherwise. That’s how we got started.

Got into carting just as far, I was eight years old, so I guess the heroine story started with my dad being my hero and just loving racing and wanting to get involved in that. And I was also born on Supercross Sunday, so my parents, they used to host like a local Supercross events in our hometown. And my mom went into labor the morning of the big race.

So she went to the hospital instead of to, to the racetrack. It was kind of, uh, it was inevitable

Crew Chief Eric: carting at a young age, especially a young lady in carting, you know, and motorsport, as we know, is a male dominated sport, but that is changing. We’re seeing parody in multiple disciplines of motorsport throughout the world.

What was it like for you competing at that level and then moving [00:03:00] up further and further into racing?

Sabre Cook: It was challenging at times, being either the only woman or one of a couple. It definitely made you have a different experience growing up than maybe your peers that would be involved in a space that had more women or more representation.

But I think I learned so much from being in those spaces and I had to learn how to kind of create my own s. In a place that wasn’t traditionally expecting me to be there. So, and I, and I really loved the fact that I got to do a lot of my younger years with my dad and he was a great mentor for me and helped me kind of, you know, navigate the challenges and that anybody goes through in racing, right.

Male or female, just the challenges and you know, the mental and physical struggles that you go through as an athlete and finding your way through and and moving up towards the top. So yeah, it was challenging, but it was, it was great.

Crew Chief Eric: So we talked to a lot of younger drivers who came up in a similar way that you did.

Maybe they started in carting or they went into junior dragsters or midgets or something like that. And there’s always this balance [00:04:00] that has to be struck. Not only just. Within the family, like, Hey, how far are your parents going to support you and push you? But with schooling, so you started carting at eight years old and what we tend to find is kids that young do racing in fits and spurts because as you move to middle school and high school and schooling gets in the way, we’re gonna talk about.

Your mechanical engineering degree as the punchline here, but how did that work for you as you continued to follow your passion but also go into a field like mechanical engineering?

Sabre Cook: Definitely. It wasn’t easy, and I’m still honestly transparently, I tried to do too many things. Like I was the kid that, I can’t remember how old I was.

I had like a complete meltdown to my mom. ’cause I was like, I just wanna do everything. Like I don’t wanna have to choose. So that, that was a problem I had very early on in my life. But I guess I just. Tried to lean into, you know, my teachers and peers around me to say, Hey, this is something I really wanna do, and this is like a passion for me.

But obviously I really care about school, like I love learning. That’s like one of the biggest things for me, is I’m [00:05:00] always like really eager to learn and continue to get better at whatever it is or learn about new things. So I just leaned into my peers, my professors, my family to say, how can I optimize this situation to be able to chase both of them?

And it was definitely some sleepless nights for sure, too many times, especially as I got older and you know, in high school and then into college. But when I was young, it definitely, it did have those little spurts where there was maybe more racing and then there was more school and I didn’t get to drive or drive as much as I would’ve liked to or wanted to or should have been driving because there is that balance and you have to learn also, like as a young sports person, you start to learn like what it really takes the level of commitment that you have to have to start to perform at that high level.

How much it really means that you need to be consistent, and how much it really means that you need to commit time to that. That was something that everybody I feel like you go through when you’re younger is, you know, you don’t get the results that you want. And the hard reality is, okay, well you’ve gotta [00:06:00] commit the time that those top, top people are committing.

And that’s really the only way around it is you’ve gotta be there and you’ve gotta be willing to put in those, you know, the 10,000 hour rule. You’ve gotta be willing to put in the time to get there.

Crew Chief Eric: So did you have one of those awkward conversations with your guidance counselor? That was, Hey, I wanna be a race car driver.

And then they said, you should find a career. To back that up. Did the race car driving beget becoming a mechanical engineer? Was the engineering always there for you?

Sabre Cook: Actually, I was one of those weird kids that I liked school, I liked math and I liked science, and there was never a question in my mind at any point.

Oh, I don’t wanna do school. I don’t wanna pursue like going and getting a degree. It was always a plan of mine and my parents obviously heavily encouraged it ’cause it was important for them. Nobody else in my family up until that point had ever gone to college. So I was the first generation student and had to kind of go through the, the learning curve of that.

Right? ’cause nobody had been through it, but. For them. It was such an important goal to be able to put their kids into [00:07:00] college and have that degree in something that you can go and take and build a life on. It was never a matter of if it was gonna happen, it was just like when and what it was gonna be.

And pretty quickly I decided it was gonna be something that was. STEM oriented. That was pretty clear, honestly, probably from the third grade on. And then it just became more clear later in my high school when I took a mechanical engineering class. And then I was like, you know what, this makes sense. And we have a really great engineering school in Colorado that’s one of the top engineering universities in the us.

So in-state tuition was all about that, save the money. So it became, uh, an easy choice to apply there. And actually, I don’t know if this was a dumb thing or just a bold thing, but I only applied there. I didn’t have any backups. I was like, I’m going here. This is what’s happening.

Crew Chief Eric: Have you been able to apply what you learned from your mechanical engineering degree in your racing, or do you see avenues for potential to exercise your degree in motor sport at some point?

Sabre Cook: So, I mean, I’ve worked. For teams [00:08:00] in a design capacity in motorsports. So I’ve, I have used it. But as far as like you mean using it specifically as a driver,

Crew Chief Eric: like those scientific principles and practices and the way you analyze and break things down. As an engineer, how do you apply that to your driving?

Sabre Cook: I am definitely much more analytical in my approach to things. I have very structured and rigorous. Debrief sheets and like the way that I log, like say a testing event, I have a workbook that I haven’t really seen a lot of other drivers have, and so I have like an an Excel workbook where I have multiple tabs and I log as much tangible data as I can without.

Making my engineer brain overthink. Like when you get in the race car, you’ve gotta be totally free. Like you need to not overthink things. It needs to be more natural, like it needs to just sort of happen and you’ve gotta be allowing your body to take over and the muscle memory to take over. Because if you drive with your conscious mind, it’s always gonna be slower than driving with your subconscious, [00:09:00] really making sure that the analytical engineering brain stays in its lane.

But it is very beneficial when I get out of the car to look. At video and data and try to narrow down what are the big things that we need to be focused on? What’s me, what’s the car? And just being able to have like a clear debrief and logging system, that then allows me to look back on trends and past experiences to then move forward more quickly.

Lauren Goodman: This reminds me a lot of Mark Donahue. The great Porsche driver, that’s who it reminds me of, who also had an engineering degree. And we have, at the museum, we have his notebooks that he kept where he kept all, he logged every single note about every single lab, about the cars. He was testing for Roger Penske.

So I think you, you would’ve been two Ps in a pod, you and Mark Donahue, it sounds like. And they’re all the graph paper notebooks, and it’s all like very, very lined up and very organized. Not like my handwriting at all. So I think the two of you. Would’ve gone on like gangbusters. But I’m also thinking [00:10:00] you’re talking about having to turn off the conscious mind and just feel and engage with the car.

Do you find it harder to do that when you understand how cars are designed and engineered, or do you trust the car more now that you understand the tolerances?

Sabre Cook: No, I think it’s harder if you understand because it just gives you a bigger range to think about. Like first thing that comes to mind is like Adam and Eve, right?

You don’t know what you don’t know till you bite the apple and then all of a sudden you like think about all these things. So in some ways I think it definitely. It gives you just a different perspective, different range to think about when you’re driving. And I definitely have to check myself and I, I always go in and preface whenever I start working with an engineer, like I’m like, look, I don’t wanna do your job.

I’m going to try to like keep myself in my lane. Definitely let me know, like if you’re like. Sabra, like, let me take this over. Like, you don’t need to worry about engineering the car right now. Like actually this just happened in, in a test that we just had, my engineer had to remind me. He’s like, Hey, your job is to just give me feedback [00:11:00] about balance of the car in this moment.

I don’t want you to stress and feel like you need to help me solve the problem. And that’s also like. Typical, I feel like girl, like people pleasing, like I always wanna help, like I wanna contribute kind of thing. So it’s, it’s definitely, I’ve very helpful to have like my engineer that I, I work with this year, I work with very well and he’s also has a driving background.

So I think that’s also why we work really well together. ’cause he understands what I’m going through. It is a challenge sometimes to keep them. In the right lanes.

Crew Chief Eric: And I’m glad you brought that up because Motorsport has been at the forefront of technology. I mean, we can make arguments about planes, trains, and automobiles being the things that drive technology forward, but racing, especially Formula One, and then you kind of counter that with the hypercar at Lamont, things like that are always cutting edge technology.

And so as we wrap up this thought on mechanical engineering and keeping that lens on for just a little bit longer, when you look at the modern cars. You’re in sports car and endurance racing, which is gonna be a little bit different because you’re based on production cars. But when you [00:12:00] look at the technology that’s out there, is there much more to give?

Is it all just finesse and fine tuning? Unlike the old days where it was like these radical inventions and the Formula One used to be at the height of experimentation, where now it’s a little bit more like a spec series. So if you look at it not as a driver. But as an engineer, what’s the technology look like out there right now on the race field?

Sabre Cook: Obviously, like you said in the series that I’m in with Horse Career Cup and like the INS hepatic, it is a little bit more rained in except for maybe the GTP side of things. But as far as like anything that has to do with GT three cars, LMP two a little bit, at the end of the day, it comes from a production or an OEM car.

It has to be within reason. Like it can’t be this like. Craziness because the factories need to justify like why are we putting an investment and research into racing if we’re not even gonna put it in our road cars? ’cause at the end of the day, that’s ultimately how they justify racing all the time is this is supposed to help push our road car technology forward with Formula One though, I feel like the reason why, maybe [00:13:00] like back in the day when you referenced you had all these crazy monster machines and everything.

The engineering field was still very much developing. There was like this big growth of things like they were learning really. Like it got to the point where there was like so much horsepower, right? But then they realized, oh, it doesn’t really matter if you can go really fast if we can’t harness that, you know, with the brakes and the suspension and like optimizing the package as a whole.

So once those two kind of like caught up to each other, there became kind of this like, it’s almost like an exponential growth and now it’s kind of like flat lining a little bit. And now where the big innovations are happening is in efficiency and sustainability. So like a lot of the new rules that are happening in Formula One is I think it’s a gas that has to be made from food waste.

Lauren Goodman: Yeah.

Sabre Cook: All the teams need to be able to create their own fuel and utilize that. I can’t remember what year it starts implementing. Maybe 20, 29. So like that’s a big thing. Obviously the hybrid system, like all the energy recovery systems, stuff like that to make the cars unfortunately quieter, but more sustainable.

It’s important because it [00:14:00] helps us. Yes. Obviously F1 is a big show and it does have like its own carbon footprint to be this big show, but they are realizing that they need to take into account what current global needs are, and so I feel like it’s another way for racing to justify to be racing, right?

It’s like, okay, well if this is the current technology and the issues that are important to people right now is sustainability and all these things, so we need to utilize this racing platform to be able to push that technology if that’s where it’s at. Right?

Crew Chief Eric: Alright, now I’m gonna ask you to take that mechanical engineering fedora off your head and just fling it across the room like a Frisbee and talk to me like a race car driver.

And what I’m driving to here is balance of performance. ’cause the argument is the balance of performance isn’t about engineering, it’s about rules. And putting on a good show, as you said, right? So your thoughts on BOP,

Sabre Cook: I mean, it’s necessary so that way all manufacturers can essentially compete in a level playing field, but it, it’s always hard.

Not everyone is gonna always be happy, right? There’s always gonna be checks and balances [00:15:00] and that’s how endurance. Racing is going to be until you make it like a spec series like Porsche Career Cup where there is a, a such a smaller window, it’s all the same cars. So it’s unfortunately part of it, it’s how it works, so that way more players can stay in the game in which we don’t wanna eliminate that.

Right? Like it’s important to have that many manufacturers, as many as possible in the world of racing. ’cause it’s just better for the sport, it’s better for the fans and it’s better for, for us as race car drivers.

Lauren Goodman: Switching gears from the engineering side to the money side. The other thing that fuels racing.

Sabre Cook: The main thing that fuels the main thing

Lauren Goodman: since time immemorial. If it ain’t daddy’s money, it’s somebody else’s money that’s fueling the racing. Exactly. So when you move from carting to the lower formula, that was requiring a step up in terms of the financial commitment from your family, from sponsors, what’s the most challenging part of putting together sponsorships?

Sabre Cook: So, so many areas. For reference, I didn’t start racing cars until I was [00:16:00] almost 23 years old because I had an amazing family that was very supportive, and they did help quite a bit with my carting side of things. But it got to the point where I had to sustain that through sponsorships and support from the factory teams, even in carting.

And so jumping up to that next level of budget in car racing. Was outta the question, so I didn’t go to cars until very late, like 23 is like way old to start your car career comparatively to, you know, people starting at 14, 15 years old. Now, going into car racing, I didn’t have that opportunity until I found a sponsor that was willing to put me in their car.

So I had to very quickly and haphazardly figure out how to put. A much larger corporate sponsorship program together very quickly because without me putting the corporate sponsorship together, there was no racing, there was no family money. There was not like it wasn’t gonna happen. It was either figure it out like baptism by fire, or uh, go back and go be an engineer and forget about your racing dreams.

I obviously made a lot of mistakes. I tried to figure it [00:17:00] out, but I would say the the biggest thing to understand about sponsorship is at the end of the day, it’s about telling your story, building a story that resonates with people, and getting people to buy into that story and using that story to help someone meet.

Some need. And if you’re able to marry those together, you can make a very powerful partnership that will last longer. Like it’s a business, right? But ultimately businesses are made of people and people just need a emotional justification to choose to be a part of your. Program. So yes, it’s important to show a return on investment, but at the end of the day, it is about them liking you as a person and believing in you and your story and wanting to become a part of that story.

I think that’s the biggest thing that I’ve realized about sponsorship.

Lauren Goodman: We got a chance to meet at the Women with Drive Summit. Sponsored by wna had a great time and I, I love how they emphasize the coaching of young women drivers and to do [00:18:00] things like sponsorships, how to go out and put together their sponsorships and their package in order to fund their careers.

And one of the things they talked about, it is still a discussion about sponsors still hesitated to fund women drivers. At the same rate they fund male drivers. Have you seen that change just in the time you’ve been driving? Do you think there’s been some movement or not enough movement, but some movement?

Sabre Cook: Absolutely. I think women in sport in general are, uh, getting more sponsorship dollars if we just look at the data ’cause. I like to just look at the data. In the past, traditionally, women globally have received less than 1% of sports sponsorship dollars. That was a few years ago, and now I think we’re maybe up between four to 6%.

So that’s like a big jump. It’s still like extremely skewed, but that is progress and I’ve definitely seen it in more tangible ways. Like by me being involved in W Series and now being a part of the Porsche Mobile one female driver development program. [00:19:00] There are definitely things that are moving and shifting.

It’s just gonna take time to reach more of an equality level.

Lauren Goodman: Which brings me to W Series. I’d love to know more about your experience moving into that, and I just realized that I saw you drive at Coda in W series in 2021. Yeah, there were two, two races that year. Moving on to what really is a global stage like that.

Did it feel like they were just dialing up the intensity or did it feel like a completely different beast altogether

Sabre Cook: before WS series, I’d actually raced on a Formula one weekend previously with U SF four. So I did race at code like oh. I’d been part of a an F1 weekend in that respect. But obviously WS series was kind of the next step up.

We were very much in the public eye, became, you know, this new thing that everyone’s like, how’s this gonna go? Like, what’s going on? And kind of the first of its kind. It was incredible because. Yes, I know a lot of people had their opinions about it and they have their opinions on F1 Academy, but as a racer, as we just talked about, corporate sponsorship is my bread and butter, and the only way I can [00:20:00] chase my goals.

So to have WS series come in and say, Hey, here’s an opportunity to race an F three car on a global stage. You don’t have to pay. Any of it, and you will get paid. All you have to do is qualify and be one of the fastest drivers. Like you say that to any race car driver. They’re like, oh, okay, let’s go. Where do I sign up?

So for me it was, yes, I don’t love the idea of the all women’s thing because at the end of the day, we wanna be fighting just to be the top full stop, no gender involved. But until WS series, I’d never had a full season of car racing. So that became my first. Opportunity to actually have my first full season.

So without that, no matter what your opinion is on it, it was so revitalizing for myself and so many other women that were a part of it, who otherwise were going to be on the sidelines.

Lauren Goodman: A huge step in terms of visibility, if nothing else. Absolutely. So I’ve been following along with the Academy as well.

Do you think the Academy model is an improvement on the W Series model?

Sabre Cook: I think that it has [00:21:00] definitely engaged the F1 fan base more, and that has been helpful, that it is branded with the Formula One brand and it has that giant behind it that has been positive because it’s given it more reach. The only thing that is, I don’t wanna say a step backwards, but it’s not as beneficial to the drivers, is that it’s not as much based off of qualifying to be one of the fastest in the seats.

You still have to bring money. Not like W Series where it’s like you show up as a pro, you get paid to drive and you don’t have to bring any money. F1 Academy is a little bit of a different structure, and it’s also F four cars, so the cars are slower as well. It’s like kind of give and take, but I think ultimately, like in the long run, I hope that it’s going to create this ladder to having more women performing at the top in the road to F1.

Lauren Goodman: Tell us about the Porsche development program and how you got involved with that.

Sabre Cook: Porsche Motor PORs, north America didn’t have a female driver development program until [00:22:00] 2023 when I became the founding member and the only member in 2023 when I became the first female to race in the Porsche Career Cup North America series.

So it was really actually super cool of Porsche to be intuitive and they are paying so much more attention than you realize. Like when I was first looking at the idea of going into Porsche Kera Cup, who, by the way, the reason why this happened was because of Lynn St. James, who is one of the co-founders of wna.

She said, Hey, you know, this looks like a great series. Like it’s super competitive. It has a lot of potential to put you in a good spot to then build into stuff long term in the sports car world. And so I was like, okay, like let’s. Take a look at it. Let’s see what it is. We wouldn’t announce anything.

There was nothing public going on, but OSHA just paying attention to what was happening. They realized, Hey, what’s going on? You wanna race in the series? And so the fact that they just like, were paying so much attention to realize that without any sort of formal [00:23:00] conversation and say, Hey, okay, you wanna do this?

How can we help you do this? And then even bringing their own corporate partners in to make it happen. What other OEM is really actually doing something like that. So I felt like incredibly thankful and grateful for them to want to create that space and then not just stop with me being in the series, you know, and be like, oh, that box checked done right.

Like every year with the help of mobile one, they’ve expanded the program and now I think there’s like seven of us. Now total in the Porsche Motorsports North America ladder. So it’s grown so much and it’s growing every year. They’re just getting better about providing us with new things to learn more resources or workshops.

It’s been an awesome thing to be a part of.

Crew Chief Eric: After doing a couple of seasons of Open Wheel and making the switch to Porsche Cup racing, what was that transition like? Do you like production based racing or sports car racing over the open wheel, or do you still kinda long for the days of being in an open wheel car

Sabre Cook: as a driver?

Right. Sports car racing. Ultimately it’s a street [00:24:00] car that gets kind of turned into a race car. And a formula car is a purpose built, born bred race car. So it’s meant to do all the all the right things, right? So it is very challenging to jump into a sports car world after being in the open world world and coming into a car that you have to think your way around more because a nine 11, especially it’s engineered wrong, the engine is buying the rear wheels.

Crew Chief Eric: I’m, I’m glad you said it, not me.

Sabre Cook: It’s fine. They know it. It’s the legacy, right? Like it is what made Porsche. Porsche. So it is a very challenging car, but it makes drivers, it gives them a bigger toolbox to pull from. Because it is challenging and you do have to really be in tune with using your tools in the car and driving the car with your feet, using your driver tools to really help the balance.

Like I feel like there’s not a lot of production cars that are at the same level of Porsche Car Cup, where it really pushes the driver to evolve and develop in the same [00:25:00] way. That’s why, you know, they say if you can be fast in a nine 11. You can be fast in anything. After my experience being in the career cup, going back and driving anything that I would’ve driven before, like open wheel, I’m a hundred percent faster.

So like it’s made me a better driver because it’s given me a larger range of tools to utilize. It’s been challenging, but it has definitely made me grow.

Crew Chief Eric: Coming off of the GT three based nine elevens, the modern era stuff, nine. Nine ones nine, nine twos and things like that, have you been able to get behind the seat of a classic analog nine 11 and kind of compare and contrast what the new cars are like versus what some of your heroes have driven in the past?

Sabre Cook: The first Porsche I ever drove. It’s kind of analog, maybe like it still has some, like in theory it has like a blip, but it’s like a mechanical blip where it has, actually, the thing that pushes the gas pedal down is the UH, 9, 9 7. So that was the first GT three cup car I’d ever driven. The sponsor that I mentioned that put me in my first race car, it was his.

So I was destined, I guess, to find my way into a [00:26:00] Porsche eventually, one way or another. But that was my first experience in a Porsche TT three Cup car. And I loved it because it’s super raw. Like the 9, 9 7 is a shorter wheel base. We’ve really aggressive with it. And I, most of my carting background was in shifter cards, so getting in one of those was like, ah, this is like, this is awesome.

So much, like, so similar. So it was a great introduction.

Lauren Goodman: I read on your Wikipedia page about, as part of the development program, you got coaching from Patrick Long, who is a friend of the museum and a very cool guy.

Sabre Cook: Yeah, pat has been awesome, like such a great resource for me and he’s a really cool guy.

Like just so, so accessible, so chill, and I feel like I can, you know, message him or call him and just be like, Hey, this is what’s going on. Like, how do you think I should handle it? Like, what should I do? Like, do you have advice? He is always like there to make sure that you as a driver and an athlete are getting what you need.

Like he’s going to always put you first and want the best for [00:27:00] you as a person regardless of all the other things that lie out there. Because you know, at the end of the day, he’s a race car driver. He knows what we’re going through and he just wants to be like. That mentor and give us advice that, you know, he wished that he would’ve had at the time when he was going through all of this.

So he’s been a incredible resource and it was super cool to see him in the F1 movie. I thought that was, that was a nice, uh, nice little cameo. He did a great job. And, uh, yeah, we just had him as well at, we have a Porsche driver combine every year. Um, it’s been the last couple years it’s been at Penske in, uh, Charlotte and he came this year and kind of gave us a, an impromptu inspirational speech and it was just great to have him there and I really appreciate all of the advice and, uh, mentorship that he’s provided.

Lauren Goodman: And there’s someone you wanna talk to about driving Porsches. He’s the guy, right?

Sabre Cook: Yes.

Crew Chief Eric: Yeah. Well, Lauren, if we’re name dropping, Patrick was on Evening with the legend, along with another one of Sabras heroines out there, and that’s Margie Smith. Ha. And you guys did a [00:28:00] video together about generations of Porsche drivers.

You wanna talk about that a little bit? What that video was about for the folks that haven’t seen it before?

Sabre Cook: That was a super fun project that Porsche USA came to me and Margie with and said, Hey. This is such a powerful story, like we’re gonna bring in, you know, the current driver and the one that started blazing the trail and then has this story with the Porsche family.

And we’d love to tell your stories together, introduce both of you to our Porsche community together and just share this awesome story that’s kind of evolved through the years and see how the growth has happened for women in motor sports. So it was actually really cool. The director had this fun idea that she didn’t want us to meet.

Until they could capture it on camera. So Margie and I were actually kept totally separate in the hair and makeup rooms. Like I didn’t see her, I didn’t get to talk to her like we went to dinner separately the night before. They were like, no, we don’t want you guys to meet because we wanna capture this moment.

On camera. So they kept us separate. We’d started shooting in the morning and then I was in the [00:29:00] car and they brought Margie out onto the track on the side of the track, and they captured the moment of us meeting for the first time. And it was so awesome. Like I’d never met Margie before, obviously, and it was great to just.

Meet her and see like how much awesome experiences she had to share. Just how much she still like loved and appreciated the motor sports experience she’s had, and then the shared the love of the Porsche family and how many great things she’s gotten to experience being involved in such a strong community and like.

The support she receives and the great things that she has to say about the Porsche Club of America community and just all the cool things that she got to experience back in the day and how different it was and like, you know, the challenges, things that she dealt with too, that are much better today, but were, we do see some of the similar trends, but it was an incredible time to get to spend with her and uh, I think the video turned out great as well.

So, props to the Porsche, USA and their production team, ’cause it turned out really well.

Crew Chief Eric: Do you plan to follow in Margie’s footsteps? And be one of the very few [00:30:00] American women to race at Lamont.

Sabre Cook: That’s the plan. That’s always the dream, right? So we’ll see how, uh, how and when we can make that happen.

Lauren Goodman: Okay, so quick pit stop before we transition.

What are your top three tracks to drive?

Sabre Cook: Now it’s kind of a tie, but Brands, hatch, gp, circuit, and spa. For sure for a third one. Um, I would say either,

Crew Chief Eric: did I hear Watkins Glen? Is

Sabre Cook: that what she said? I mean, I like Watkins Glen, but I don’t know. I’ve never raced on Laguna Seca, so I don’t know if I can fully say that yet.

I would, I’ve, I’ve driven there but never raced. So like, I liked ASIN in the Netherlands and I actually really enjoy Coda. So I don’t know. Those are kind of like. All time for

Lauren Goodman: third, you like having a nice steep incline. Apparently that’s what you really like between Coda and Spa, that’s what you really like.

Apparently.

Sabre Cook: Well, I’m a Colorado girl at heart. That’s right. I’m like, I need my mountains. I need, you know, I gotta have some elevation changes.

Crew Chief Eric: So if she could drive road Atlanta backwards, it’d be [00:31:00] perfect.

Sabre Cook: Oh, true. Yeah.

Crew Chief Eric: Well, since Lauren opened the door for a pit stop, I got one for you. We haven’t asked this one.

Of one of our guests in quite a long time. But since you have a mechanical engineering degree, Sabra, you are at the head of the boardroom table, and two blueprints are slid to you to decide on by your team. One is the space forward 9 59, and the other one is the fire breathing F 40. Which one do you pick?

Sabre Cook: Hmm. F 40

Crew Chief Eric: wins again, so, okay. Explain why

Sabre Cook: I feel like it’s more overall balanced and I appreciate the arrow elements more. Does that make sense? It does.

Crew Chief Eric: We get a lot of different answers for this, and it tends to be about the passion in F 40.

Sabre Cook: Yeah.

Crew Chief Eric: Clinically, the 9 59 is better on paper, but as a driver, the F 40 is the car you want.

Sabre Cook: It makes you excited to think about driving it.

Crew Chief Eric: Exactly. Yeah.

Sabre Cook: I guess my driver ultimately took over instead of the engineer brain, [00:32:00] but

Crew Chief Eric: it’s okay. The score is way off into Ferrari’s corner for that one. But anyway.

Lauren Goodman: Well, I wanted to know a little more about getting ready for a typical race weekend. What your life looks like as a racing driver.

What does the week up to the race look like? What are you doing to get physically, mentally prepared? What kind of sponsorship commitments do you have? And if you feel like you’re a driver who actually kind of. Gets juiced up by those kind of event commitments or you find them draining and distracting.

Sabre Cook: I am naturally introverted.

I appreciate my, uh, recharge time, but I definitely appreciate the fact that I get the chance and I want to feel grateful for those opportunities. You know, before a race weekend where. We’re living in a space right now and you know, it could change tomorrow, but the fact that I have the chance to create an event that people are excited to show up at and meet me and see the car like that is something special.

And so I, I really try to be grateful for those opportunities, but I will admit, like it does wear you out. So you just [00:33:00] have to kind of manage your energy going into a race weekend, kind of as we talked about earlier, I try to do too many things pretty often. I’m definitely the overcommitment type, so I’ve been working on doing a little bit less or like a little less stress going into race weekends, creating a better tapering mental and physical load going into a race weekend.

It is challenging ’cause as a race car driver, like you wanna do a great job for your partners on and off the track. And so having those, creating those events. Doing those activations before a race weekend is really important to continue to build not only my brand, but also connect my sponsors to more people.

So it’s definitely a fine line that you have to walk to have balance.

Lauren Goodman: What’s something about a career as a driver that would surprise most people who have regular nine to five jobs?

Sabre Cook: Well, I think most people don’t realize that we don’t get paid to race except for, unless you’re some of the elite few, right?

Like you have to bring, whether that’s. Family money, uh, which is often the case, or you bring corporate [00:34:00] sponsorship to the team to race, like you’re not sending in your resume. There is obviously those situations where that does happen, but the majority of racing happens by bringing funding to the team and you have to work on getting paid outside of that, whether that’s coming from an extra amount that you have in sponsorship dollars or that.

Mostly come from me from coaching, engineering, work, media, work, sim coaching, all that extra stuff. That’s where you actually get paid, not necessarily from a team paying. You

Crew Chief Eric: talked about following in the footsteps of people like Margie and others that have come before you. Taking this information in mind, a lot of people probably haven’t thought of before.

What advice would you give to young drivers? Especially young ladies that wanna follow in your footsteps.

Sabre Cook: For anybody, it’s just really important to understand that motorsports is a lifestyle. It’s not just a job. It’s not just about doing cool things and going to cool places as much as like we do get to do that.

But it’s important to, I think, to understand like [00:35:00] the level of commitment that it takes to be successful in motor sports and the sacrifices that you’re going to have to make to make your goals. What, and that’s not just as a driver, that’s, you know, whether you’re an engineer or a mechanic, like those guys do not get enough appreciation for the hours and blood, sweat, and tears that have to be put in to make our race cars go fast.

So I would just say be prepared to, to work hard to. To make it your lifestyle, but also the other thing that I would say is really important is to build a really good team around you. Trying to do it all by yourself does not work no matter what industry you’re in, having the people that you know are gonna be there in your corner and able to direct you in the right path.

I mean, it’s instrumental for anybody, but especially for anybody that’s, you know, an athlete trying to make their way in their sport.

Lauren Goodman: In watching some of the lower series or even some of the, the people still in carting, are there any young people you have your eye on that you think we should also be watching at this time?

Sabre Cook: I will be honest, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a go-kart race. I, I think the last time I was [00:36:00] maybe coaching at one last year, but it’s been a while, so I don’t know if I have the best inside scoop as far as carting goes. But car-wise. I would say, actually somebody that’s really impressed me, her name is Anna Sini.

I’m gonna, I don’t know how to say her last name, but she just started racing and she’s in Porsche Sprint Challenge first year in the GT four cars. I think this is like maybe her first competitive or like really actual, like more pro season in racing ever. She didn’t do carting nothing like, did like a track day with her dad, and her and her dad are like, let’s do this together.

This will be fun. And then she quickly became faster than her dad. I think maybe they did like a WL race or something like that, like the year before, and now they’re full on in enforce Sprint challenge. She’s winning consistently in the GT four cars in Porsche Spring Challenge. To have no background and to be going in and doing that, I feel like that’s pretty impressive.

The other people that I would definitely say impress me is the Hannah’s. If you don’t know them, they’re teammates in [00:37:00] SRO, traditionally, Hannah Greenmeyer and Hannah Grisha. Hannah Greenmeyer, I have known for a long time. She’s a local Colorado girl as well. Maybe a little bit of Colorado pride going on there, but she’s always been really, really fast.

Works really hard. Her and Hannah Grisham are doing a really great job in the GT four cars and have gotten some really, really solid results lately. So I would say definitely, probably those are my top ones. If you wanna think about over the pond though, I would probably say the two latest F1 Academy winners, Marta Garcia and Abby Polling.

I race with them in W series and they’re both wicked fast. Abby has Alice Powell as a mentor and I think she could do some, some great things if given the right opportunities.

Crew Chief Eric: What’s next for you?

Sabre Cook: What’s next? Well, immediately we have our Indianapolis race coming up. Event-wise, I will be doing an event at my alma Mater, Colorado School of Mines, so I’m really looking forward to that.

But as far as overarching for next year, I actually can’t give you an answer because there’s some, uh, interesting things in the works. We’ll [00:38:00] see what comes to fruition, but I will be staying in the Porsche family, but I just can’t tell you where yet.

Crew Chief Eric: No spoilers.

Sabre Cook: No spoilers yet.

Crew Chief Eric: Well, Sabra, we’ve reached that part of the episode where I like to invite our guests to share any shout outs, promotions.

Thank you. Is there anything else that we haven’t covered thus far?

Sabre Cook: All of my social media and anything you wanna learn about me and my partners@sabracookracing.com. And, uh, you can subscribe to my newsletter and go check out my YouTube channel. Whatever you wanna see is all found in that one convenient location.

Lauren Goodman: And that’s wrap our conversation with the incredible Sapr Cook. An inspiring force in motor sports who proves that talent determination and technical expertise are a winning combination, both on and off the track from her early days in karting to competing on the global stage. Sabre’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and relentless passion for racing.

If you wanna keep up with Saber’s journey, be sure to follow her on Instagram at Saber Cook, Twitter at Sabra Cook and Facebook at Sabra Cook Racing, or find at mor website, saber cook [00:39:00] racing.com.

Crew Chief Eric: With that Sabra, I can’t thank you enough for coming on Break Fix. I have to say you’re making all the right moves.

You are a great role model for aspiring drivers, and hopefully they will heed your advice. From this episode, and we wish you continued success in the Porsche Cup series or whatever’s going on with Porsche. And let’s manifest it right now, shall we? One day Lama. And when that comes to be, we hope to have you back here for an evening with a legend episode so you can talk about your experiences at lama.

Sabre Cook: I look forward to it. It’s gonna happen. I’m gonna see you guys. We’ll, we’ll, we’ll make it happen one day at a time.

WIMNA Promo: Women in Motorsports, north America is a not-for-profit organization that began in 2022, known as WIM A. It is a community that focuses on advancing, connecting, and enabling. Its many partners, including industry executives, drivers, team members, OEM, sponsors, tracks, and more. MNAs Women and Drive [00:40:00] Summit continues its mission to bring together motor sports professionals.

This unique event offers new pathways for individuals to explore career opportunities, discuss current industry challenges, and provides mentorship and resources for future growth in the industry. Wi Imna welcomes all who share their passion for Motorsports. And if you’d like to stay informed about Wi Imna and the Women and Drive Summit, be sure to log on to www.womeninmotorsportsna.com or follow them on social media at Women in Motorsports Na on Instagram and Facebook.

Crew Chief Eric: We hope you enjoyed another awesome episode of Break Fix Podcasts, brought to you by Grand Tour Motorsports. If you’d like to be a guest on the show or get involved, be sure to follow us on all social media platforms at Grand Touring Motorsports. And if you’d like to learn more about the content of this episode, be sure to check out the follow on article@gtmotorsports.org.

We remain a commercial free and no annual fees organization through our sponsors, but also [00:41:00] through the generous support of our fans, families, and friends through Patreon. For as little as $2 and 50 cents a month, you can get access to more behind the scenes action, additional pit stop, minisodes and other VIP goodies, as well as keeping our team of creators.

Fed on their strict diet of fig Newton’s, Gumby bears, and monster. So consider signing up for Patreon today at www.patreon.com/gt motorsports. And remember, without you, none of this would be possible.

Episode Highlights

Skip ahead if you must… Here’s the highlights from this episode you might be most interested in and their corresponding time stamps.

00:00 Meet Sabre Cook: A Force in Motorsports
01:50 Sabre’s Early Racing Journey
04:05 Balancing Racing and Education
07:46 Applying Engineering to Racing
15:43 Sponsorship Challenges and Successes
18:05 Women in Motorsport: Progress and Challenges
19:07 Comparing F1 Academy and W Series
21:50 Joining Porsche Cup Racing & Development Program
27:49 Generations of Porsche Drivers
32:04 Advice for Aspiring Drivers
37:40 Future Plans and Shoutouts
40:32 Closing Remarks

Bonus Content

There's more to this story!

Be sure to check out the behind the scenes for this episode, filled with extras, bloopers, and other great moments not found in the final version. Become a Break/Fix VIP today by joining our Patreon.

All of our BEHIND THE SCENES (BTS) Break/Fix episodes are raw and unedited, and expressly shared with the permission and consent of our guests.

Learn More

Porsche brought Sabré Cook and Margie Smith-Haas together

Sabre became the first woman to race in Porsche Carrera Cup North America in 2023, launching Porsche’s female development initiative. With support from legends like Lyn St. James and Patrick Long, she’s thriving in the world of production-based racing. “If you can be fast in a 911, you can be fast in anything,” she says.

As mentioned on the episode, check out this video from Porsche featuring Sabre Cook and Margie Smith-Haas. Porsche most recently did a YouTube and Instagram ‘Taking the Wheel with Sabre” Cook and Margie Smith-Haas (March 2024) as part of Women’s History month, check out “Legacy takes a lap: inspiring the next generation of women racers.“

Her transition from formula cars to the famously rear-engined 911 was challenging – but transformative. “It’s engineered wrong,” she jokes, “but it makes you a better driver.”

About this Series

Break/Fix’s “Women of the Autosphere” Series

Truly remarkable work being done by gifted and talented women in so many different careers and we’re dedicated to celebrating all of the diverse women in the Automotive and Motorsports Industries. Be sure to check out more episodes from this series!

Hosted by Lauren Goodman – the Associate Curator of Exhibitions at Revs Institute in Naples, Florida. She is passionate about the history of women in motorsport and the preservation of historic cars.

Sabre didn’t start racing cars until she was nearly 23 – a late start by industry standards. Without family funding, she had to master the art of sponsorship, learning that success off the track is just as critical. Her advice? “It’s about telling your story and helping someone meet a need. Business is made of people, and people need emotional justification to support you.”

She’s seen progress in gender equity, too. Women now receive 4–6% of global sports sponsorship dollars – up from less than 1% just a few years ago. Programs like the W Series and Porsche’s Female Driver Development Program are helping shift the narrative.

Sabre’s advice for aspiring female racers? Know that motorsports is a lifestyle, not just a job. Build a strong team, commit fully, and be ready to work harder than you ever imagined. “Trying to do it all alone doesn’t work,” she says. “Surround yourself with people who believe in you.”

Sabre’s future is still under wraps, but she promises to stay in the Porsche family. Her ultimate dream? Racing at Le Mans. And if her track record is any indication, she’s well on her way.

Support Women in Motorsports North America

The following episode is brought to you in part by Women in Motorsports North America, a community of professional women and men devoted to supporting opportunities for women across all disciplines of motorsport by creating an inclusive, resourceful environment to foster mentorship, advocacy, education, and growth, thereby ensuring the continued strength and successful future of our sport.

Women in Motorsports North America is a not-for-profit organization that began in 2022. Known as “WMNA,” it is a community that focuses on Advancing, Connecting, and Enabling with its many partners, including industry executives, drivers, team members, OEM sponsors, racetracks, and more.

The Women with Drive summit continues its mission to bring together motorsports professionals. This unique event offers new pathways for individuals to explore career opportunities, discuss current industry challenges, and provides mentorship and resources for future growth in the industry.

If you’d like to stay informed about WIMNA and the Women with Drive Summit, be sure to log on to www.womeninmotorsportsna.com or follow them on social media @womeninmotorsportsna on Instagram and Facebook.

Guest Co-Host: Lauren Goodman

In case you missed it... be sure to check out the Break/Fix episode with our co-host.

This content has been brought to you in-part by support through...

Leitzinger at Le Mans: Speed, Strategy, and Soul

Gran T

October 7, 2025

Leitzinger at Le Mans: Speed, Strategy, and Soul

Some names echo with thunderous acclaim – others hum with quiet consistency. Butch Leitzinger belongs to the latter. His career, spanning decades and disciplines, is a masterclass in understated excellence.

Born into a racing family, Butch’s path seemed predestined. His father, Bob Leitzinger, was a successful IMSA racer, and Butch grew up immersed in the rhythm of engines and pit lane strategy. But unlike many second-generation drivers, Butch carved his own identity – not by emulating his father, but by quietly outperforming expectations.

Tune in everywhere you stream, download or listen!

Much of Butch’s career is synonymous with Dyson Racing. His tenure with the team spanned nearly two decades, during which he became a fixture in American sports car racing. Whether piloting a Riley & Scott Mk III or a Lola prototype, Butch’s driving was marked by precision, patience, and a deep understanding of endurance racing’s demands.

He wasn’t just fast – he was smart. Teammates and engineers alike praised his feedback and racecraft. In an era of evolving technology and fierce competition, Leitzinger remained a constant: adaptable, reliable, and relentlessly focused.

Synopsis

On this episode of Evening With a Legend, we welcome Butch Leitzinger, a renowned ALMS driver best known for winning the Daytona 24 Hours three times and competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times. Butch shares his journey from his first visit to Le Mans in 1994 as a crew member to his near-podium finish with Bentley in 2001. He recounts his transition between different teams and cars, including Panoz, Cadillac, and Bentley, as well as his experiences and challenges in endurance racing. The discussion also touches on the technical aspects of racing, the mental and physical demands of Le Mans, and Butch’s advice for aspiring drivers. The episode concludes with reflections on Butch’s motorsport career and the significance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

On this episode we peel back the layers of this enigmatic figure, revealing a driver whose legacy is built not on bravado, but on brilliance.
Your podium finish with Bentley in 2001 is one of the highlights of your career. What was it like to be part of Bentley’s return to Le Mans after such a long absence?
The 2001 race was a defining moment for both you and Bentley. How did the team dynamics and camaraderie play a role in securing such a prestigious finish?
What was the atmosphere like at Le Mans during those intense final hours in 2001, when you were battling for a podium finish with Bentley?
2002 was also a huge achievement, same team, same car, same drivers…and almost the same results. Tell us a little more about the 2002 attempt.
Throughout your six attempts at Le Mans, what were some of the most difficult challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
For up-and-coming drivers who dream of racing at Le Mans, what advice would you give based on your experiences, especially dealing with setbacks and staying focused?
How did your experience at Le Mans shape your approach to other racing events in your career?

Transcript

Crew Chief Brad: [00:00:00] Evening With a Legend is a series of presentations exclusive to legends of the famous 24 hours of LeMans giving us an opportunity to bring a piece of LeMans to you. By sharing stories and highlights of the big event, you get a chance to become part of the Legend of LeMans with guests from different eras of over 100 years of racing.

Crew Chief Eric: Tonight we have an opportunity to bring a piece of LeMans to you. Sharing in the Legend of LeMans with guests from different eras of over 100 years of racing. And as your host, I’m delighted to introduce Butch Leitzinger, best known as an ALMS driver with Dyson Racing. He has also driven for a variety of other teams and race series.

He’s a three time winner of the Daytona, 24 hours in 19 94, 97 and 99. He won [00:01:00] two IMSA drivers championship titles in both 97 and 98 while driving for Dyson Racing. And he was named. 2002 Rookie of the Year in the TransAm series and has raced in both the next tail and a Bush NASCAR series. Butch has attempted to conquer the 24 hours of LeMans six times in his career, driving for Panos in 97 and 99, team Cadillac in 2000.

Then clinching a podium with Bentley in 2001 and returning to Bentley in 2002 with a final run with Risi in 2003. And he’s here with us tonight to share his motorsports journey. And with that, I’m your host crew chief Eric from the Motor Inc. Podcast Network. Welcoming everyone to this evening with a legend.

Butch, welcome to the show.

Butch Leitzinger: Yeah, thank you very much, Eric.

Crew Chief Eric: Like all good stories, there’s an origin. So take us on your road to Lamont. What led you up to your first race in 97?

Butch Leitzinger: Well, it, the first time I was ever actually at Lamont was 1994. I drove the Nissan 300 ZX Turbo and we won at Daytona. And that meant an invite to [00:02:00] Lamont with Nissan, but I was only in the second car and I was, you know, the, the reason I was even in, in the car in the first place was as, as reward because I won GTU Championship the year before.

You know, I’ve been trying to go to Lamont for forever. So it was always kind of like, well, you know, we don’t have a budget for a second car. And they had Paul OSI in the second car and he had some means, and Eric Vanderbilt had some sponsorship with lease plan. They had a third seat that still wasn’t filled.

Frank Kitz was running a Nissan Motorsport, and so I was bugging him all the time, you know, get me there, get me there. And I made the mistake of saying, just get me over there and if I can’t drive, you know, I’ll do tires for you. And I kind of said that as a throwaway comment, but came back to bite me because I got sent over there two weeks early because they found out that I took French in high school, went over with Gary Cummings, who was.

Doing the, uh, the advance prep for it. And so I spent two weeks kind of preparing for the team to come over. Still not knowing if I was gonna drive, you know, that was given the, I think about an hour’s warning. I, I, I live in State College, Pennsylvania. I got [00:03:00] a phone call that said, okay, we have a flight for you out of Newark.

In, in about six hours and it’s about four hours away. So I, I had to throw my stuff in a bag and hightail it for the airport, you know, and it was still just like the hope that maybe third seat wouldn’t be filled. It eventually was filled, a gentleman that had some backing from a Japanese television station.

So then I spent the week of race week being a tire buster, just taking the tires back and forth, but still as an American in 1994. You know, Lamont. Like right now there’s quite a bit of transfer between the US and Lamont. You know, there’s like a lot of teams, a lot of cars make the trip pretty easily.

Back then, it was much more rare. There wasn’t that much, uh, representation of Americans at Lamont. It had always been a dream of mine to be at Lamont, preferably to race, but just to be there. So this was quite possibly my one chance to ever get there. Having said all that, how wonderful it was to be there, I would not do it again as a crew member, because that, that was, that was a long, long day.

Crew Chief Eric: So up until that point, had you raced in Europe yet?

Butch Leitzinger: I had not. The only thing that I’d done, not in Europe, but in Japan [00:04:00] a few times, there was an invitation some of the teams had from a Japanese group to bring the GT cars over and, and we raced at Fuji twice and at auto. Once. Yeah, so this was my first time racing in Europe as well.

Crew Chief Eric: So the first time you go to LA by, you’re there as crew, let’s just say, hoping that they need a driver to fill in and you’re anxious and you got your helmet ready and all that. What was your first impression of LeMans, even as a worker bee or as a spectator? What did you think of it compared to the tracks you had been running in the States?

Butch Leitzinger: It was really impressive. I had never seen that level of facility before. You know, this was. Right after they had built the main complex, the old pit complex, quite famous, but also quite famous for, you know, not being modern standards. But, uh, yeah, so it was truly impressive seeing that level at a, at a road course, you know, ’cause in the states at the time, in 1994, like Watkins Glen, and trying to think of other tracks that we have in, in the states, you know, most of them hadn’t been updated from 1970s, you know, so it, it was impressive to see just even that level of facility at the time.[00:05:00]

And then once getting to the circuit itself, it was really impressive, you know, in my two weeks I was there before the race, being able to drive on the course itself and trying to imagine when there weren’t, you know, Lori’s going back and forth on the road with groceries and things that, that, you know, there cars going 200 and whatever miles an hour on it.

It was kind of the culmination of reading magazines for 20 years at that point.

Crew Chief Eric: So earlier that year, like you said, you won the Daytona 24 hours in 1994. How did you put the deal together with Payos and who helped you along the way?

Butch Leitzinger: I benefited a lot from relationships that I had. I driven with James Weaver and Andy Wallace at Dyson Raising from 1995, and we got along really well.

We were very compatible as code drivers and we had quite a bit of success. Actually. We won Daytona 24 hours together, beginning of 97 and Don Payos. In, in 1997, I decided that he wanted to go to LeMansn and he did it, you know, in a typically Don Penos way of, didn’t do it by half. And he went in, he had Adrian Renard build him a car, and he had David Price run [00:06:00] the team for him at LeMansn.

Both James and Andy had very good relationships with David. Andy had driven the McLaren F1 with price’s team, so they were like really good mates. So when it came time to get a, a third driver for Lamont, you know, they just kind of poked him and said, you know, why don’t you take a look at Butch? And, and he said, who’s that?

And he, he refused to call me Butch from the moment I met him, he said. But now, and if you know, pricey, there was quite a few other words that were thrown in there, but he just, uh, you are buzz, buzz light, you. So from then on, he, he just called me Buzz. But yeah, so I was able to just kind of get dragged in through my friends.

Crew Chief Eric: So you get to LeMans at that moment, were you comparing and contrasting Daytona to LeMans? Were you making those? Comparisons or was it just on a totally different level?

Butch Leitzinger: It was a totally different level. This was where I benefited hugely with James and Andy being my teammates. And not only that, they convinced Pricey to hire me, but before any of us went on the track, we went around the track and they gave me tips the entire way around.

A lot of things to remember and also really one of the things they did was put into me. [00:07:00] How dangerous this place is, the speeds that the cars are going, there’s often enormous accidents. And you know, one, actually one of the greatest tips that they gave me was because the straits are so long that it’s a little bit easy to kind of lose concentration.

You know, you start looking at the gauges and you know, okay, like you start making notes like, oh, remember to tell them that when I come in. And the tire pressures of this. And then miss your breaking marker because you’ve been going down the street for the last 20 seconds or, or whatever it was opposed to most normal racetracks where it’s just constantly turn, turn, turn.

It’s a different rhythm to it there. But yeah, so it was a big help having them to really bring me up to speed on the seriousness of the track. And then in spite of being there, you know, you’re, you’re there for the Wednesday, Thursday, you know, with quite a bit of practice time, but most of that goes away pretty quickly, you know?

And then actually we had pre-qualifying then, but. Every lap of pre-qualifying was taking up with Andy Wallace driving because we didn’t have very much speed. We got in by the skin of our teeth, actually both for pre-qualifying and qualifying itself because that year they, they invited to [00:08:00] the race more people than were going to start.

So I think it was two cars we’re going to go through all qualifying and then not be able to race. And we were almost that car just ’cause the car wasn’t what it would eventually become. We, we were struggling a lot with power and with a lot of reliability problems with the car. But yeah, so all pre-qualifying was taken up with Andy driving, so I never drove in pre-qualifying.

For the race weekend, if I remember right, I got a few laps in a night practice that was pretty eye-opening in every kind of way. You know, I I, I went out at night. It’s not like Daytona where everything’s lit up, you know, even, you know, the lights were fairly decent, but you’re very quickly driving past your headlights at 200 miles an hour.

And I remember somebody blew an engine, so there’s oil all over the track, so they had local yellows. And a bit of a shock to me coming from the US but the way they would handle the yellows was there’d be a coursework, you know, there, there were people like spreading oil dry out on the track and then a coursework just standing on the road on the racetrack with a little reflective light to catch your headlights.

That was quite a shock to me. I. Like in, in, in the States, it would probably be a red flag. You [00:09:00] know, everyone in the pits, well, we take care of this stuff. That wasn’t the mechanism there. So I kind of had to get a little more aware of the difference in attitude, I suppose, between the US and Europe. And then I did the warmup before the race, so like, you know, maybe six or seven laps before the race itself, which, which is a fairly common thing.

And keep in mind, six or seven laps is still quite a bit of miles. You know, you, you don’t have that as much repetition to really be able to extract a great lap time out of the car just because you don’t have the experience yet.

Crew Chief Eric: You brought us into 97 and you were no stranger to endurance racing by this point, and you were still sort of talking about the comparing and contrasting of Daytona and Lamont’s here.

Daytona, like you said, a lot of turns, a lot of turns. You’ll do 200 miles an hour, but you’ll do it for a brief period of time and then you gotta come deep into turn one and just lose all your speed and kind of start the whole process over again, as we know. But the physical demands of Lamont, not only the mental demands of that concentration of running at night and changes in weather conditions.

’cause that’s inevitably what happens at Lamont because it’s. So big. After being there in [00:10:00] 94 and then 97 and and continuing your attempts, how did you have to physically prepare for something as big as LeMans compared to the races you were doing? Stateside.

Butch Leitzinger: LeMans doesn’t beat you up as much as Daytona, but it’s very different mentally.

Daytona. The real issue, at least in the day, is that, you know, you might have 70 cars on the track at the start of the race. The feeling was literally like a, like one of those video games where those cars just kind of meandering all around, you know, and, and you’re meant to like be like, be able to slice through all these little jamer cars, yet you’re, you’re just constantly evading cars and slicing through traffic.

So I. At Daytona, your lap time might vary by five seconds a lap easily. We hopefully avoided a few crashes and things like that. And you come around, an experienced crew chief would just look at that and say, well, I must have had a, you know, a few, a few things happen that lap, but like that wouldn’t be a cause of alarm or anything at lamont because there were only at, at the time, I’d race things ’cause 48 cars over eight miles of track.

So every lap is like almost qualifying, you know, [00:11:00] you don’t really have much traffic. One things about Lamont is that because the laps are so long, the team managers don’t have a whole lot else to do, except for like, look at the, at their notebook and look at what lap time you just turned. And so, you know, they, they stare at that for four minutes or, you know, three minutes, 50, whatever it was.

And as they come. Butch is a a little bit slow today. Like that last lap was two seconds slower than the lap before. You know, I, I think you might be losing it just from, uh, being able to keep your job, you know, or get a job for next year. You really have to kind of impress them every lap and, you know, really kind of have the car standing on its nose at, at Daytona.

If you made it around for the lap. It was a good lap. At Lamont, you really had to be with a good lap time, so that that was the biggest change in mental how to go into the race. At Daytona, you really had to take care of the car and make sure that you didn’t have any body work damage or anything just from touching other cars.

And at Lamont there weren’t that many opportunities to.

Crew Chief Eric: So in 97 you ran the Penos GTR one, which is in the same realm of cars, let’s say the [00:12:00] Corvettes and the Vipers and things like that that we saw here. Stateside and A LMS, which the ESP ASPIRAnte GTR one is one of the more memorable cars from that era, by far.

I mean, it’s instantly recognizable. The next time you come to LeMans in 99, you come back with. The infamous Payos, LMP Roadster, and you’re partnered with David Braham and Eric Bernard. Obviously, Don Payos wants to keep you on staff. Is that how the story goes? How did you come back to run with Payos for a second time?

Butch Leitzinger: You know, in nine seven, we didn’t have much success really. We had actually, we had quite a few problems then in, in 98. Don expanded the team quite a bit and, and had a lot of really high talent drivers for the whole year. They didn’t need someone to come in just for the, the one race, uh, at Lamont, but for 99 they actually had, had switched and Tony Dow would run the program in 98.

Then he let Tony Dow go and Tony Fox came in and, and ran the team, and it was kind of run a little bit smaller. They didn’t have kind of a cast of thousand drivers. It was, went back to, they had. Two drivers per car for the year, [00:13:00] and they needed a third for the endurance races for Lamont. And fortunately, at 99 I won again with Dyson.

You know, that looked kind of good on the cv and so talked to Don and, and he was agreeable to bring me in for the third seat

Crew Chief Eric: and then the next year. 2000 you’ve returned to LeMans this time. Totally different team. Mario Andretti basically takes your seat at Payos. They run the same car the next year in 2000.

But you’re back with Cadillac running with Andy Wallace again. So how did the switch happen? You jumped from Payos to Cadillac. How did that work out?

Butch Leitzinger: It was run by Bill Riley, the Cadillac program. I’d been driving the Riley Scott Ford in the States with Rob Dyson for quite a few years by that point. And we had a lot of success and I, and I knew Bill pretty well.

At the end of 99, I didn’t really have a full-time drive for the next year because Rob Dyson realized that the Riley’s time was getting pretty old and he was looking at getting something else, but he wasn’t really sure that he was going to, and so he was on the fence of doing anything. And so I started talking to Bill Riley and Cadillac.

Yeah, so that came [00:14:00] about and, and because Andy was there too, that, you know, I, I felt very good about that and I had a lot of respect for Bill. The program itself didn’t go that well. I mean, it really comes down to the, the engines didn’t make much power. They had a directive from Cadillac that the car had to go 200 miles an hour on, on Miles San, and it did.

They reached that goal. I, I think, where it was like right at 200 miles an hour and we were, I think, the second fastest car in the speed traps. But we were also like 13th and 14th fastest on the, on the actual lap times. You know, the car just didn’t make much down for us in order to meet that goal. Our quartering speed was pretty poor.

Reliability wasn’t great either. We ran Daytona and Seabring before. Lamont had a lot of problems, a lot of gearbox problems. They had to actually re-engineer the back of the car and used a different gearbox. From what we started with, the tires weren’t really the right tires to be using. You know, at Lamont, if you’re not on Michelin, it’s, it’s almost a waste of time.

I worked with some really great people for that, but it was, you know, a lot of great people bashing their heads against the wall because we just weren’t fast enough.

Crew Chief Eric: So what I’m hearing is you were really missing the payos at that point.

Butch Leitzinger: Yeah, the Enos [00:15:00] was good. You know, the open top Pantos in 99 was a brand new car.

I’m gonna forget the designer’s name, but basically cut the top off the car, but obviously did a lot of other engineering on the car as well. It actually, it really was a missile. I mean it, it was a really good fast car. Robert Yates did the engines and they made a ton of power. It was a really good car.

It was very odd driving both the original Panos and the open top car. The seating position was very far back, almost like over the rear axle. The actual feel from the car there. There’s a lot of movement. When, when you’re in a normal prototype, you’re just kind of behind the front wheels and you’re kind of at the pendulum point between the front rear, so you don’t get that much moving.

And especially in ya when the car starts to slide, your butt might move an inch or two inches in, in relation to the, the front of the car, and you kind of can scale like how much of a slide you’re at. But with sitting so far back, number one, like, like over any bumps. There was quite a bit of movement. All the rear movement of the car, you were kind of on top of the, the axle and then the normal [00:16:00] slide your butt would actually be moving like, you know, maybe a foot compared to the front axle.

So like it took a long time to really trust could go as far as what it felt like, like going incredibly sideways with the car. But it was actually the same amount, but you were so much farther back, it was changing your perspective.

Crew Chief Eric: So at this point you’re becoming a household name at LeMans, and 94 is the tire guy and the 97 9 9 2000.

Now we’ve reached 2001 and you switch teams again and you end up at Bentley. So how did that play out?

Butch Leitzinger: And that again was through, uh, James and Andy. James had done a lot of the testing for Bentley with Richard Lloyd’s program, and both James and Andy had driven the Audi RHC. In 1999 when I, when I was in the payos, and again, it was a situation where they needed a third driver.

James was very good about pointing out that Bentley’s biggest market was the United States. You should have this guy on. And, and I certainly tried to work that angle as much as I could too. Yeah. And, and so I, I was able to convince them to gimme a ride for it. Unfortunately, James ended up not doing the race with us because of some disagreements that he [00:17:00] had.

It was really unfortunate ’cause James and Andy and I got along so well. It, it would’ve been great to share the car with him, but it was a very high stakes program. ’cause Bentley put a lot of, you know, resources into it, but only one race. You know, it’s, it’s not like. You can have a bad race, but you know, maybe have a few good races elsewhere in the year and at the end of the year can say, well, you know, at least we had some success with this.

Everything was just piled on for Lamont and that was it.

Crew Chief Eric: That sounds like a French manufacturer. That only shows up once a year.

Butch Leitzinger: Yes, yes. No, it, uh, it’s kind of the same idea as well because Bentley, I think the reason. They were interested in the first place was just the history that Bentley had at Lamont.

It didn’t really make as much sense to the board, I’m sure to win a race at Elkhart Lake as opposed to at Lamont. You know, Lamont was really the only thing that they were interested in.

Crew Chief Eric: Definitely an iconic win for Bentley for them to come back and all that. But what’s interesting, couple threads we need to pull on here because.

Many may not know. And you touched upon something really important, which is the Audi R eight C, is that at this [00:18:00] point, Volkswagen Audi group had purchased Bentley, and so you’ve got all this German backing and engineering, you know, controlling as a small boutique British manufacturer that has racing pedigree.

That goes back to the beginning of cars. The R eight C was a previous generation prototype that was, I hate to say, a complete failure. It was their closed cockpit version of the original R eight, always in the shadows of the BMWV 12 and the Mercedes GTR and the Porsche nine 11 GT one, and all those kinds of cars.

And it never really made a name for itself until the next generation car came out. So I think it’s funny that they sort of went back and pulled the REC out of mothballs and said. We’re gonna change some body panels, but basic physics and core of it. It’s the same car. We’ll paint it green and we’ll call it the speed eight.

Did you feel some of that working with Bentley, that it was like there was this shadow of Porsche and Audi looming in the background?

Butch Leitzinger: Oh, for sure. There was no mistaking that we were a part of the Volkswagen group, but it still was. Kind of a bunch of British people working under [00:19:00] the Volkswagen umbrella.

Crew Chief Eric: Garas, right?

Butch Leitzinger: Yeah, a group. RTN was the people who built the car. Peter Ellery was a designer, both of the RHC and the Bentley. But it, but it, it was from 99 with the RHC to 2001 when we had the Bentley. It was a complete redesign ’cause obviously. As you said, I hate to say failure, but it was, it was certainly not a success.

They had a a lot of trouble, you know, my friends were driving the car, so I was paying attention to it and I, I saw it was in the pits a lot when it was even running. I know they even had like doors come flying off, you know, it was just one of those things where, you know, it was a, it was another one year program only for LeMans and I, and I know they had very little testing.

You know, they, they tried to do testing when we were at Paul Ricard and they spent very little time actually on track. You know, I think that they learned. A lot of what not to do with the, the first car. And Peter was able to design a, a really nicely balanced and also very pretty car with the Bentley, with the, the exp

Crew Chief Eric: the Bentley was a prototype and Audi was also there with the R eight Roadster, right?

The R eight R at the same time. And so people were like, well, [00:20:00] Bentley won, but Audi won. They’re book print. Wait, so there’s more than one class, but it wasn’t like today where it’s LMP one GTP now and LMP two, and there used to be P three and all these kinds of things. So you were in LMP 900 and then the Audi R eight was in LP one, but you were still fighting for an overall win because the cars were that close, right?

Butch Leitzinger: Yeah. They had different classes, categories. And they each had a different trophy. We were really the only ones in the LMP 900. We finished third. Overall, I got a trophy that says first place on it from Lamont, but the reason we were there was to win overall, you know, so Bentley was very happy with that first year result.

You know, had kind of told us that, you know, anything in the top 10, like really finishing the race was the most important thing. ’cause it was really a three year program finishing the race. Top 10 would be good. Top five would be great, was kind of like what we were built up to. So to get on the podium was pretty huge.

But in our minds, we placed third because [00:21:00] the reason we were there was to compete against the Audis, you know, the, the, the organizers had done their best to try to equalize what a time would be between the two different cars. We had a smaller tire, but a little bit better aerodynamics, a little bit bigger restrictor.

In their view, you know, we should be pretty close. And we were pretty close. So like it actually did a pretty good job with that. But yeah, so, uh, we placed there, we actually had had quite a few problems in the race. 2001 was the year that it rained cats and dogs for quite a bit of it. And one of the, uh, air intakes for the shifting mechanism took on a lot of water and failed on both the cars on our team car.

That was Guy Smith, Martin Brundle and, and Stef Orelli. It failed enough. It was stuck in six. And they weren’t able to make it back without burning out the clutch with me. It happened a few times and I kept carrying on. You could kind of trick it a little bit with grabbing the clutch and shifting at the same time.

You could take some load off of it and it would still shift, but eventually it did stick, but it stuck in fourth gear, so I was able to make it back to the pits. And then we did a swap on it, but, and I think the swap probably took. I [00:22:00] wanna say like 40 minutes or, you know, or may, maybe not that long, but it might’ve been like a 20 minute stop.

So we lost a lot of time with that.

Crew Chief Eric: You didn’t have the Audi advantage of un bolting the whole rear end and putting a new one on within the context of a lap and then going back out.

Butch Leitzinger: No. No. And, and we did not. And that was really disappointing. And in fact, with the problems that we had, we dropped back quite a bit, but we were coming back and, and other cars were having problems and we’re getting, you know, up the leaderboard pretty quickly.

At one point I heard. The lab speaker. Oh, the transmission problems for the Audi? Yes. Right. Okay. Like there’s, there’s one down and then, you know, a couple minutes later that’s back on the track. Yeah. So that really kind of took some of the air out as well.

Crew Chief Eric: Well, it blew everybody’s mind. We all saw it live.

We’re like, what are they, did they just do what I think they did?

Butch Leitzinger: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. That was, uh, pretty disappointing. If, if they weren’t out of the race altogether, they’re gonna be down for a while. In the rain. I know, I remember at least one of them when I was like walking to do one of my stints. I looked up at the tv, one of the cars was in the gravel, so I thought, okay, well at least it’s gonna be, you [00:23:00] know, a little bit before they can take ’em out.

But the bloody marshals were super, uh, en enthused at that point, and, and they, they got the car out. Probably only lost like 30 seconds. With that, we didn’t have, uh, as much luck as, as we needed to try to get back onto equal footing.

Crew Chief Eric: So when you look back at this point to your previous runs at LeMans, you’re driving this, you know, we’re put air quotes around British, but you know, German, DNA to prototype car.

Was it a leap in a bound different, despite all its problems that it had? Did you enjoy driving some of the previous cars more, or was the Bentley at that point, like that was the car? Bentley

Butch Leitzinger: was probably my favorite of all the cars that I drove there. Not, not just because of the success, but it was a really nicely balanced car.

It did everything very well. There weren’t really any bad habits. Just comparing to the other cars, like the Panos Roadster, number one was pretty slow, but also extremely hot. Extremely loud. I think most of my hearing exited between that year and then 99 also with the Panos ’cause. ’cause the cars were ex excruciatingly loud, you know?

And in, in fact, in 97 we [00:24:00] drivers James and Andy and I, we single stinted. And the main reason was just because of the noise was so bad, it felt like you were in a war zone or something. It was just like, it was, it was almost hard to, to concentrate. It was so loud. And then with the open top, Penos. This was definitely, you know, my fault, trying to be, you know, kind of a, an easygoing teammate.

I didn’t really get the cockpit to my liking, and I was stuck up a little bit in the Airstream and we, we tried to do some things with the windscreen to make it a little bit better, but that the other drivers didn’t like it. So basically I had to put a pad on my head because my head was in the Airstream and, and on straits, it would just get pinned back.

So I had to have a pad on it so I could just like at least rest it there. But if I started to look left or right, it would take my head like that, you know, and, and try to rip it off. So I just had to keep my head dead straight and just use my eyes whenever I was going left or right, which wasn’t ideal.

But the car was very good. It was, it was a little bit more brute force as opposed to, uh, at a time kind of on its own. You really had to drag it around the track, which David Bradham especially was extremely good at. And then the [00:25:00] Cadillac just didn’t really have the pace that we needed and also didn’t have the downforce.

So yeah, it just was never really that satisfying. But, so the Bentley was definitely of, of all those cars, the the best of them all.

Crew Chief Eric: So 2002 is where it gets interesting because you’ve returned to Lamont yet again with Bentley, and it’s the same team, and the same car, and the same drivers, and nearly the same result.

But in the states, you double down and you’re running TransAm, which is nothing like. The Bentley at the same time as campaigning this card, other racing that you’re doing. Tell us a little bit more about this 2002 attempt. What was the goal going into it? Was it We did third last time We battled it out.

You’re suddenly on the podium now you wanna do it again. What was the ambition of the Bentley team going in for a second year?

Butch Leitzinger: We were almost the victim of our own success. In 2001, things went a lot better than it was. It was expected to, you know, they kind of had their chart of expectations and you know, with ramping up with a win for the third year.

But we had done well enough that they thought, well, do we really [00:26:00] even need to do the second year? Because they wanted a complete redesign of the car. There wasn’t enough time to do top to bottom redesign of the car. And it wasn’t really until, yeah, I think it was at Daytona test in January that I finally got word that, okay, we’re going.

To Lamont, you know, which is only six months away from that. Yeah. So I, I went into 2002 with, well, actually really with Harley any work. ’cause I, this was another point where, where Rob Dyson decided that, that, you know, he wasn’t sure that he was gonna do a full season at that time it was, I guess Grand Dam or U-S-R-R-C, I can’t remember what, what, what it was.

But anyway, so he couldn’t really commit to a full program. Bentley going into the year seemed about 50 50, whether they’re going to be doing it, so I, I saw where Tom Glowy in the TransAm series had an opening for a driver, so I called him to see if he was available. Fortunately that worked out, and also he was agreeable to letting me go and test in France.

And nothing fortunately collided on the schedule. So I was able to do a full commitment on both. But yeah, so when Bentley finally decided to do the program, it was with a [00:27:00] mild update on the car. Uh, they, they really even said this to us was, it was really just as a way to kind of keep the team together and kind of keep learning the next year, which was meant to be the year that they won.

And it was known at this time even that we were always a part of Volkswagen, you know, in the Audi group. So there was always some give and take. You know, we were running an Audi engine. In fact, our first test in 2001 was at a track called MOS in Czech Republic, and it went really well, and Audi was testing at the same time and we were actually matching their times.

You know, we, we left that test thinking, wow, we’ve really got something serious here. Then we never went as fast again. And I won’t explain too much what I mean by that, but you might be able to kind of draw,

Crew Chief Eric: we’ll call it balance of performance and put air quotes around that.

Butch Leitzinger: The car never quite seemed to have the same snap that it did at that first test either.

So the, the idea was, and you know, and the way they carried it out as well was for the third year. The Volkswagen kind of emphasis would go from Audi to Bentley, you [00:28:00] know, and that’s why there were no factory Audis run. The YO team came and ran one of the Bentleys and they basically brought quite a bit of the Audi drivers over as well to run the cars just ’cause it was, they became the primary program

Crew Chief Eric: that foreshadows the 2003 season.

So before we talk about your return to Lamont in 2003, you were there to see it unfold, but you weren’t part of. The Bentley roster in 2003, and there’s still arguments to this day. It even sits sideways sometimes with me when I think about it. The phrase is that Audi sort of gifted Bentley the win in 2003.

What were your thoughts about Bentley’s third and final in their program as you knew they were gonna do three years? You know. Okay. So they clinched it in that third year, but was it really theirs? Let’s sort of settle the debate, I suppose.

Butch Leitzinger: The Volkswagen group definitely. You know, the favored mark for that year was Bentley for sure.

But having said that, the car that Peter Ellery penned for that year was a brilliant car. It was a beautiful car, just like, you know, being outside the program at that point, but watching it, it looked [00:29:00] really impressive. And they went to Michelin tires, which was an improvement. Yeah. And then the competition, you know, it, it went all to private tier Audis.

I’m not sure if I remember right, but I think maybe the balance of performance had been shifted a bit as well, where the Audis got a little bit of a haircut on their restrictor as well, so there was definitely a favored sun there. They also executed really well, you know, and, and by having Ghost Run one car and Richard Lloyd’s team run the other car.

There was still competition between the two. It wasn’t even like two cars just going around in formation for the entire race. You know, you, you had rivalries. British group over here and the German group over here. So there were definitely both sides really trying to push their own side through. You know, I, I don’t think they, they weren’t necessarily gifted anything, but there was definitely most favorable situation of the three years that they had.

Crew Chief Eric: Do you feel like you missed out not being one of the drivers selected, or was there a reason to go to Ferrari instead?

Butch Leitzinger: Well, no, I went to Ferrari just because. I didn’t have anything else, you know, that I also was very happy to get a ride with the GT team, but I would’ve loved, and I, you know, I, [00:30:00] I pleaded my case as much as I could, but they were pretty set that they wanted a more or less British car guy.

And David, and, well, no, actually David was in the other car, but it was obvious that they were gonna be bringing some of the Audi drivers over as well. And, you know, I, I can’t really blame them ’cause they were fantastic drivers. And if this is the one year that you have to win LeMansn. I can certainly see their argument that you want to have people that have won Lamont before, so I didn’t take it too hard, but Got it.

Would’ve been great.

Crew Chief Eric: And we’ve heard from other legends that have been on the show, whether it was, you know, David Murray or it was Adrian Fernandez that have made the transition from l and p down to the production classes versus somebody like Andy Pilgrim who’s super comfortable, you know, behind the wheel of a Corvette versus going the other way.

What I’ve heard as a kind of a consensus from those drivers that it wasn’t like it was a step down, it was different. And we talked about how much time they spent being maybe more situationally aware, driving in their mirrors. It’s just a whole different atmosphere because of the speed differential. So when you step down [00:31:00] from LM one, let’s.

Say down into the production classes with the Ferrari, did you have the same experience where suddenly you’re like, man, I’m not used to all these cars ganging up on me. And like you said, you’re one of the, the Jamer cars, right? You know, out on track. Was it like that for you?

Butch Leitzinger: Not really. I grew up doing GT racings.

I’d spent quite a bit of time in that role before I went to prototypes, so it wasn’t completely foreign to me. But having said that, driving high horsepower cars, high downforce cars can also maybe make you a little bit. Lazy, exploiting like everything that they have and, you know, maybe not using all momentum that you have because you’ve got 700 horsepower to dig you out of the turn.

Now all of a sudden when you’ve got 400 horsepower little tires and, and no down force, it becomes much more critical to be really tidy with everything. And so, like that was probably the biggest challenge was, you know, being inch perfect everywhere and not kind of like trying to drag a time out of it, but kind of like really like letting the car, uh, do what it wants.

Crew Chief Eric: Had you driven a Ferrari before this point? And the reason I bring it up is to compare it [00:32:00] to coming off of a TransAm season in a Corvette. What was that like?

Butch Leitzinger: Yeah, there was like nothing similar between the two. It, that was the only time I drove a Ferrari, even since I think actually, but it was very different.

The setup on the car was very soft as opposed to what I was maybe more used to with prototypes. It took a lot of getting used to. Yeah, and I, and I honestly, I wasn’t the fastest driver on the team either, because I, I kind of coming into it a little bit cold like that. But even so, we were actually, we were, we were doing really well.

There’s a problem with the Porsches that year. I think they had a fuel problem or something like that, or maybe a fuel pump problem. We found ourselves leading into the night at some point, a way that we, that we were leading. But then we, we had an engine blow. Someone came when I was sleeping in the, in the, you know, little cubicle inform me that engine was blown up.

So we, we did only lasted probably less than 10 hours in that one. But it was, it was, it was good to go back there and have a perspective from the gt ’cause all the others were being in the top class. So, yeah, it, it was. An interesting way to do it.

Crew Chief Eric: Six attempts at LeMans, tons of challenges, weather conditions, changing teams.

[00:33:00] So many things that you’ve been probably thinking about in preparation for this. And we like to ask the legends that come on the show, when you take all that into consideration, when you look at it now, maybe with rose colored glasses in some respects. Your Lamont’s journey is longer than a lot of other drivers.

You know, some people, it’s one and done, you know, and then you’ve got others that have done it, you know, a dozen times and so on. But when you look back over those six attempts, what do you think Lamont’s taught you? Did it make you a better driver when you went into your other series?

Butch Leitzinger: I think so, yeah.

Well, I suppose the biggest thing is just being able to kind of. Handle the pressure of such a big event, especially on the Bentley side where, you know, there was an enormous amount of resources that were put behind this one team. There was only one race, you know, so the stress and, and the pressure get builds up every day, every day, you know, leading up to the race.

And then the actual weekend itself, it gets pretty crazy, you know, all of the PR people freaking out, you know, just as much as everyone’s feeling the pressure and kind of showing it. So I, I think one of the biggest things is just being able to [00:34:00] absorb that much pressure and go out and, you know, and, and do what you’re, you’re supposed to do.

And then the other part, like we talked about earlier, was just because at Lamont you don’t have traffic so much to deal with. There’s a much higher emphasis on lap times. Throughout all 24 hours as opposed to survival, having to shift the whole attitude from just having a car together to race the last few hours.

Where at? At Lamont, you’re really from the beginning of the race, just going as hard as you can and just hoping and, and assuming that the car is going to put up with it, and if not, as the car’s fault, the driver at Lamont isn’t meant to really take care of the car so much as to just extract every bit of speed out of it.

Crew Chief Eric: So even before the first time you went to LeMans as the tire guy in 1994, you mentioned that you had always wanted to race at LeMans. And I’ve interviewed plenty of other up and coming drivers that say the same thing. LeMans is one of the crown jewels, part of the triple crown of Motorsport for that matter.

And they wanted race at LeMans and they haven’t been able to get there yet. Having been there six [00:35:00] times yourself, what advice would you give based on all your experiences to these up and coming drivers that wanna go to LeMans

Butch Leitzinger: first would be I. Do it. You know, like what, whatever you can, like, put a lot of effort into defining it, whatever path you can do to, to get there.

Whether that means having success in prototype or GT racing, you know, like in in the, in IMSA here or in, you know, in the European series. And find out who’s going. Like the way I got the Ferrari drive was just looking at the entry list and seeing which cars didn’t have a third driver. And then starting to make phone calls, I’m sure it’s not quite as, as simple as that anymore.

I think deals are done, I think much earlier maybe than, than they used to be. This was probably, I wanna say maybe in March or so, maybe April, even when, when I made the deal for the Ferrari, so it was quite late. Whereas now it seems like all the teams, when when the entries announced. Four or five months ahead of time, like they’ve already got all their drivers set up.

But the biggest thing with racing is really relationships. You know, as I said, how, how I got into it with having a relationship with James and Andy and then [00:36:00] David Price, and just kind of knowing people so that whenever your name does come up, it can click and it can say, oh, okay, well yeah, actually that makes sense.

As opposed to whenever they have to say, you know, who is that? That doesn’t help. Whatever you can do to get your name out there, whatever success you can get, I think helps in being chosen for a drive at Lamont because everyone is very selective because it is, I mean, a huge event, but also a huge expense for whatever team is doing it.

I don’t imagine that it’s changed a lot, but I, I know that, like Rob Dyson used to say that when he was looking at possibly entering them on the budget for doing. The one race was the same as doing an entire year, and no one’s going to make just kind of an offhand choice. Every choice is going to be very thought out, so you know, you need to make your case as strong as you possibly can to get the opportunity

Crew Chief Eric: watching Rolex watching LeMans or even the 24 hours of the Berg ring.

It’s a lot to swallow for some people. There’s some diehards, like in the A-C-O-U-S-A, we try to stay up as long as we can to watch the race and watch you guys compete. You got a lot of folks out there that are coming into [00:37:00] Motorsport by way of things like Drive to Survive and Formula One and other channels and disciplines of Motorsport.

So if somebody asked you, Butch, I heard, should you raced at Lamont? You know, I don’t know if I can stomach watching this type of racing. What would you say to them to get them excited to watch something like the 24?

Butch Leitzinger: You know, I’ve been to Lamont a couple times since with Michelin, where Michelin rewards some of their best dealers with a, a trip to France and with their spouse and, and they’ve taken the, the event and no one ever comes away from that.

Disappointed. It’s amazing. There’s, there’s nothing like seeing cars go that speed at night. I mean, just like visually the, the sensory overload as the cars burst through the darkness and come screaming past you and just all of your senses are just so completely attuned to, you know, and being assaulted really as the car goes by you.

It’s something very special. And if you ever get any chance to go to Lamont to visit Lamont, definitely take it. If you can do it with a package, it’s even better, you know, if it’s some kind of group or you can get tours and get, get behind the scenes, it’s so much better. [00:38:00] But yeah, it, it’s an event. You know, it’s, it’s like, you know, I’ve been to like the Preakness horse race and like Indy 500.

Even just standing there, you know, in the grandstands or in the infield of the Preakness, the buzz of the people. There’s like electricity in the air. You really feel like you’re at an event. You know, it’s not just like going to a sporting event. It’s going to, it’s really significant event where I think what they have like 200,000 people are there, you know, watching it.

You really feel like you’re a part of something. Anyone who goes there will not come back Disappointed.

Crew Chief Eric: I’m glad you opened the door to talk about being part of something as we wrap up here. So, if you could transport Butch from the past to the current season, you know, the last couple years of cars, is there anything you would drive that’s out there on the track now?

Butch Leitzinger: I wouldn’t drive it very well, probably. I definitely try to maybe not let anyone know it was me, ’cause I’d probably embarrassed myself. But I am very interested though in, in the modern prototypes and the hybrid systems and, and just. Everything that goes into it. And honestly, like, you know, I, I try to watch some of the racing on tv and I’ve never really seen very good [00:39:00] explanations on what are the drivers doing, what are the teams telling ’em to do?

Like how much is automatic, but how are they balancing the, like all these different systems. I’m very curious on the technical side, how all that works together and how much the driver is actually doing with it. You know, I have seen the cars though, and they’re incredibly impressive. With the hybrid system and the, the ice engines, they absolutely just explode off the line.

Coming out of a, a slow turn, the acceleration is just mind blowing. Yeah, that, that would be probably the thing that I would like the most is just to be able to feel the acceleration that the modern cars have

Crew Chief Eric: this year, next year, and next couple seasons are gonna be a big to-do because Aston Martin is back.

Ford has announced that they’re coming back to L-M-P-G-T-P. Do you think Bentley’s gonna make a return in the future? What are your thoughts on that?

Butch Leitzinger: Obviously they don’t have any inside knowledge, but I do know that they looked at LMP two, can’t remember how many years ago, but I wanna say like maybe six years ago, five years ago, before Covid anyway.

And at the time it seemed kind of odd to me, but I think they probably knew at the time that basically the prototypes were kind of going towards LMP two kind of size and then [00:40:00] with with the hybrids and all that. So I wouldn’t put it past them. I know the Volkswagen board is keen to keep Bentley. Known as a performance brand.

That was the reason that we went in the first place was that when Volkswagen purchased Bentley at the time, they morphed into like, it’s kind of Rolls Royce, but not really. They had a hard time kind of saying what they really stood for, I think. And Volkswagen Group came in and, and said, we need to reestablish what Bentley is.

And you know, I think it worked really well. I think when you see a Bentley actually has some basis for the performance behind it, you know, like it actually has history, you know, so, and it’s not only ancient history, it’s also. Modern history. So yeah, I, I wouldn’t be surprised if, you know, every few years, maybe every 10 years or something like that, they decide that they need to kind of freshen that up and go back.

I hope they do ’cause it is great. One of the coolest things when I was with Bentley is we did some factory visits and it was just great to go to crew, these old brick buildings. I. And where they built spitfire engines during the war and, but they actually to see like the way that they’re assembling these cars, like seeing the wood be cut for the dashes [00:41:00] and, and the leather selected.

It was cool to see cars still made by people’s hands. If the Volkswagen group can justify it. I’m sure that there’s still people at Bentley that want to go back to Lamont.

Crew Chief Eric: This year’s also a big year for Lamont because it’s going to be the 12th running of the classic. It’s been a while since the classic.

So if you got an invite to go run one of your previous Lamont’s entries, would you do it?

Butch Leitzinger: Oh, absolutely, yes. I’m doing some of that now on stateside where a gentleman named Juan Gonzalez has actually one of the Cadillac more modern is 2017 Cadillacs that he and I drive over here. We, we just did the Sebring Classic.

It’s a great way just to go out and have some fun behind the wheel and no, no pressure just to enjoy reliving some glory days. No, absolutely. If there’s any chance to get back to them all, I’ll definitely take it.

Crew Chief Eric: I’m glad to see that you’re still out there racing butch, and I think you need to update your business card.

Just say Butch inger to LeMans and beyond.

Butch Leitzinger: Sounds good.

Crew Chief Eric: Well, as we wrap this out, I wanna pass the torch to our A CO Ambassador Mai Lee for some closing thoughts.

May Lee (ACO USA): Thanks a lot, Butch, for your [00:42:00] time here and sharing your wisdom and your stories. It’s been very enlightening and very enjoyable, and thanks again to Eric for the excellent hosting for the event.

Thanks to all the a CO members who’ve dialed in. Have a great rest of your evening.

Crew Chief Eric: Thank

Butch Leitzinger: you very much

Crew Chief Eric: and on behalf of everyone here and those listening at home, thank you Butch for sharing your stories with us. We took a deep dive into the incredible journey of Butch Litzinger and his six attempts at conquering the 24 hours of LeMans from his near victory with Bentley in 2001, to the challenges and triumphs that defined his career.

Butch’s story is one of perseverance, passion and resilience in the face of adversity. A special thanks to Butch for sharing his experience with us and giving us a closer look at what it truly takes to race at Lamont’s. His podium finish in 2001 will forever be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments in endurance racing.

We hope you enjoyed this presentation and look forward to more evening with a legend throughout the season. And with that Butch, I can’t thank you enough for coming on the show, sharing your stories with us. And I have to say, it feels really odd to say this, but I grew up watching [00:43:00] you race and it’s been an absolute honor to sit down and listen to you and talk about your stories.

So thank you for sharing.

Butch Leitzinger: It was very kind of you. I appreciate that, Eric. I had a great time. Uh uh, thanks. I’m happy to do it at any time and keep turning laps. Right on.

Crew Chief Eric: This episode has been brought to you by the Automobile Club of the West and the A-C-O-U-S-A from the awe-inspiring speed demons that have graced the track to the courageous drivers who have pushed the limits of endurance. The 24 hours of the LeMans is an automotive spectacle like no other For over a century, the 24 hours LeMans has urged manufacturers to innovate for the benefit of future motorists.

It’s a celebration of the relentless pursuit of speed and excellence in the world of motorsports. To learn more about or to become a member of the A-C-O-U-S-A look no further than www do LeMansn org, click on English in the upper right corner and then click [00:44:00] on the ACO members tab for club offers. Once you’ve become a member, you can follow all the action on the Facebook group, A-C-O-U-S-A Members Club, and become part of the Legend with Future Evening with the legend meetups.

This episode has been brought to you by Grand Touring Motorsports as part of our Motoring Podcast network. For more episodes like this, tune in each week for more exciting and educational content from organizations like The Exotic Car Marketplace, the Motoring Historian, break Fix, and many others. If you’d like to support Grand Touring Motor Sports and the Motoring Podcast Network, sign up for one of our many sponsorship tiers at www.patreon.com/gt Motorsports.

Please note that the content, opinions and materials presented and expressed in this episode are those of its creator, and this episode has been published with their consent. If you have any inquiries about this program, please [00:45:00] contact the creators of this episode via email or social media as mentioned in the episode.

Highlights

Skip ahead if you must… Here’s the highlights from this episode you might be most interested in and their corresponding time stamps.

00:00 Meet Butch Leitzinger: Racing Career Highlights
01:50 Butch’s First Encounter with Le Mans
03:53 Challenges and Experiences at Le Mans
06:37 Comparing Daytona and Le Mans
11:53 Racing with Panoz: The Journey Continues
13:13 Switching Teams: From Panoz to Cadillac
16:19 Bentley Era: High Stakes and Iconic Wins
22:12 Transmission Troubles and Disappointments
23:14 Comparing the Bentley to Other Cars
25:10 The 2002 Bentley Campaign
28:14 Bentley’s 2003 Victory and Controversy
30:25 Transitioning to Ferrari and GT Racing
32:53 Lessons from LeMans; Advice for Aspiring LeMans Racers
38:33 Modern Prototypes and Future Prospects
41:51 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgements

Bonus Content

There's more to this story!

All of our BEHIND THE SCENES (BTS) Break/Fix episodes are raw and unedited, and expressly shared with the permission and consent of our guests.

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Evening With A Legend (EWAL)

We hope you enjoyed this presentation and look forward to more Evening With A Legend throughout this season. Sign up for the next EWAL TODAY!

Evening With A Legend is a series of presentations exclusive to Legends of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans giving us an opportunity to bring a piece of Le Mans to you. By sharing stories and highlights of the big event, you get a chance to become part of the Legend of Le Mans with guests from different eras of over 100 years of racing.

What makes Butch’s story compelling isn’t just his success – it’s his humility. He never chased the spotlight, never courted controversy. Instead, he let his results speak. Multiple wins at Daytona, Sebring, and countless podiums across IMSA and ALMS are testaments to a career built on substance over style.

During the session, Leitzinger reflects on the changing landscape of racing, the camaraderie of the paddock, and the quiet joys of driving. His insights are thoughtful, tinged with nostalgia but never bitter. He speaks not as a retired hero, but as a man who simply loved the craft.

2002 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, Le Mans, France. Bentley Pitstop. World Copyright Jeff Bloxham/LAT Photographic

Butch Leitzinger may not be a household name, but within racing circles, he’s revered. His story reminds us that greatness doesn’t always roar – it often whispers. And in those whispers, we find the soul of motorsport: dedication, resilience, and a deep respect for the machine.

ACO USA

To learn more about or to become a member of the ACO USA, look no further than www.lemans.org, Click on English in the upper right corner and then click on the ACO members tab for Club Offers. Once you become a Member you can follow all the action on the Facebook group ACOUSAMembersClub; and become part of the Legend with future Evening With A Legend meet ups.

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Operation Motorsport® is a Veteran Led and Operated, Canadian Registered Charity, based in Brighton, Ontario, serving Canadian Service Members and Veterans and is based on three core values: Team, Identity, and Purpose. Operation Motorsport supports the recovery of medically releasing or retired Service Members affected by military service through Motorsports opportunities. Our motto is One At A Time.

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Screen to Speed: Alessia Dallafontana

INIT eSports

September 22, 2025

Alessia Dallafontana is carving her path—one lap at a time. From her first electric kart to podium finishes in Mexico and a bold move to Spain, Alessia’s story is a testament to passion, resilience, and the power of dreaming big.

Photo courtesy Alessia Dellafontana Instagram @alessia.dallafontana

For Alessia, racing wasn’t just a hobby – it was a revelation. “Instead of love at first sight, it was love at first drive,” she recalls. A spontaneous family outing to a karting track after watching Formula 1 ignited something deep within her. The adrenaline, the butterflies, the thrill – it all felt like home. “I’ve tried many sports,” she says, “but nothing felt like karting. The smile under my helmet says it all.”

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Racing can be dangerous, and Alessia’s family knew that. But their support never wavered. “They’ve always been there,” she says, “making sure I’m doing what I love.” That emotional safety net gave her the courage to chase podiums and push through the tough transitions – from electric karts to gasoline-powered machines.

Watch the livestream

Switching from electric to professional combustion karts wasn’t easy. The sound, the feel, the speed – it was a whole new world. “At first, it was tough,” Alessia admits. “But with time, training, and commitment, I adapted. Now I feel confident in this new way of driving.”

Her journey reflects the broader evolution of motorsport, where electric and hybrid technologies are reshaping the future. Alessia’s early experience with EVs positions her perfectly for this shift.

Highlights

Skip ahead if you must… Here’s the highlights from this episode you might be most interested in and their corresponding time stamps.

00:00 Meet Alessia Dallafontana
01:01 Alessia’s Early Racing Journey
03:35 Family Support and Challenges
04:50 Transition to Professional Racing
08:19 Life in Spain and Racing Academy
11:15 Adapting to New Challenges
16:54 Future Goals and Inspirations
20:24 Balancing Life and Racing
27:35 Advice for Aspiring Female Racers
30:33 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

Transcript

Crew Chief Brad: [00:00:00] Welcome to Screen to Speed, powered by Init eSports. In this podcast, we dive into the journeys of remarkable individuals making waves in sim racing and bridging the virtual with the real. From the thrill of digital circuits to the roar of real life racetracks, we explore the passion, dedication, and innovation that drives the world of motor sports.

We’ll hear from athletes, creators, and pioneers sharing their stories, insights, and the powerful ways sim racing is connecting communities and creating pathways into motor sports. So buckle up screen to speed starts now.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Welcome, everyone. Annie talks. Happy to see everybody here. Uh, today we got Alessia Della Fontana with us, uh, welcoming this hour.

Alessia Dallafontana: Thanks for having me. [00:01:00]

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. So let’s start. I know that you’ve been in, uh, electric carting, uh, all your way. Start right away.

Alessia Dallafontana: Yeah, I did start it in electric racing. And I think that the thing that, you know, hooked me was obviously, um, the speed, you know, that shut off adrenaline, but I think also that constant feeling, you know, of butterflies in your stomach.

Mm-hmm. You know, it. It’s, it’s a nice feeling, you know, sometimes it’s, you know, related with, with nervousness and all that stuff, but I don’t know, for me, it’s like a reminder that I’m doing the thing that I love and that I’m really, um, into it and, you know. Making everything possible to do it right.

Mm-hmm. I don’t know. It’s like that reminder that I’m doing what I love and that I’m doing it [00:02:00] right.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: That’s awesome. So that was more like fun for you, right? When was like you, uh, decided that that’s your dream to.

Alessia Dallafontana: So it’s funny, it was, um, a weekend of Formula One race and I was watching it with my family and after that we decided, um, to go to a cartoon track, you know, just to have some fun.

Mm-hmm. Um, but the thing is I really loved it. Um, I say like, instead of a love at first side, it was like, love at first drive. I don’t know. I, I enjoyed it so much that I asked my dad if it was, if it would be crazy to, to try it as it’s as a sport. Um, I mean, I’ve always been like. A very sportive person.

Mm-hmm. You know, trying many disciplines at school level competitions, but you know, always there, um, searching new sports. [00:03:00] Um, but yeah, now that I look back, um, nothing felt how Hearting feels like. I don’t know. Um, it’s a feeling I can’t really express with words, but I think that the smile underneath my helmet says, you know?

Mm-hmm. And it’s, yeah.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Nice. So you, you just, uh, felt like. Hey, this, this is, uh, uh, like my job, which I want to do and I want to sing Driver. Yeah. And actually the formal one inspired you. Uh, yeah. Think in that way. That’s awesome. And yeah, you mentioned that, uh, you went on with your family. Uh, can you, how family react?

Uh, like, you know, that’s dangerous sports, of course. And, uh, maybe they worry about you. Yeah,

Alessia Dallafontana: yeah. So yeah, obviously they’re, sometimes it gets scary, you know, it’s, it’s. It’s a tough sport. Yeah. And sometimes it can be really dangerous, but I think that, um, I don’t know, they’re always been there [00:04:00] supporting me and making sure I am doing the things I love and achieving all my dreams.

So yeah, I think they. Play like a crucial role in this journey because, well, for me, um, I don’t know. Family is, it’s really important and, you know, having their support, um, keeps me motivated, you know? Mm-hmm. And it just, yeah, the reminder that. Yeah, as well. I’m doing the things I love, the people I love support me and yeah, I, I’m really grateful with them for, for being by my side in this journey.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: It’s really nice that, that’s real few more tough times on the racing track and to adapting to the cars. Uh, can you about started in cars and then you moved to professional cars? Uh, yes. In Mexico, you, uh, earned P two. And how do the podiums. [00:05:00]

Alessia Dallafontana: Well, obviously they felt amazing. I mean, one of, uh, every driver’s dream is to be on the podium and Yeah.

You know, it was like my first dream. It’s becoming a reality and mm-hmm. Yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s an amazing feeling, but for me it was also like that boost of confidence. I mean, it made me realize that I belong in this world and I felt proud of myself because, because, um, those result, those results were, uh, the product of my hard work during my first months of my.

Of my current journey

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: also. Tell me about your view started with electric cars and driving cart with, uh, with engine. Yeah. Uh, how does it feel? Was it different? Uh, you know, we got a lot of EV cars, uh, nowadays on the roads. Yeah. Uh, what do you prefer from your side?

Alessia Dallafontana: I mean, obviously the, I felt a [00:06:00] huge change, you know, because, um, the electric guard, well, at first.

They, they don’t have the same, you know, the same sound, you know, it’s not the same. Mm-hmm. The same sound. Also the feeling changes, the driving changes, you know, because it’s, it’s a different track, a different engine and yeah. One runs with full battery and the other one has electrical parts and also aing with gasoline and all this, this stuff.

So. Yeah, it was, it was a huge change because, well, also the speed, you know? Mm-hmm. Um, the change of speed is really, really, it impacts you, so. Yeah, I did felt it like a, a big change. And at the beginning it was tough for me, you know, because I, I was used to a way of driving with the electrical cards.

Mm-hmm. And when changing to the professional cards, well I, I needed to [00:07:00] adapt to these new, um, way of driving. So, yeah, at the beginning it was tough, but with the time and training and. You know, compromise it. It changed, you know? And now, and now I feel more. You know, more, more confident mm-hmm. In this new other way of driving.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. You know, definitely I started from, uh, ing, like I started in professional ing right away, but I had some endurance races and rent cars. Uh, definitely, uh, because professional cars. They’re lighter. Um, yeah. Yeah. And, uh, you know, accelerate in a really fast way. So yeah, it’s, it’s really cool that you jump into this because, uh, I think nothing with Scar was, uh, especially if you ever going to try them.

Yeah. They’re really fun. Yeah. Yeah,

Alessia Dallafontana: yeah. Yeah. I’m looking forward for, uh, trying Yeah. The, the shift during the season. So, [00:08:00] yeah, we’ll see, we’ll see that big change.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. But you know, also physically they’re really hard. Uh, so then I raise an open wheelers and I can say that open viewers a little bit easier than driving in, uh, the, the shifter cart.

Yeah,

Alessia Dallafontana: I can imagine.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, they’re really hard to drive. Um, so you moved Spain actually to join, uh, car championships here? Yeah. Uh, what actually decided.

Alessia Dallafontana: So I found a sports academy. Mm-hmm. And we decided this change because, um, what the academy offered. So in Mexico, I couldn’t always balance school with carding.

You know, I trained on track as much as I could, and I kept a basic gym routine. Mm-hmm. But now that I’m in the academy, I can attend to school, uh, train and track, train with a physical trainer, uh, [00:09:00] have sessions with, um, I don’t know, nutritionist, psychologist, and physiotherapist. Mm-hmm. When it’s needed and all within a schedule that allows me to do everything.

Uh, yeah, I mean, I miss Mexico a lot, but Spain has been like a, a great opportunity to keep growing as an athlete.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, why don’t you think that you, uh, actually try racing here or you really, uh, like European, uh, motor sport? Yeah.

Alessia Dallafontana: Well, I mean, I think that, well since little, I, I’ve always wanted to, to live in Europe, you know?

Mm-hmm. It’s, it. There are places that I, I really like, and I don’t know, it was more of, I found an academy in Spain. Mm-hmm. And, um, yeah, I, it was more like, oh, I found this opportunity and I’m taking it. Mm-hmm. So. [00:10:00] It’s not like I was looking for many options and then I choose one. No, it was more like I saw the opportunity and, um, well, obviously after talking to my family and all this stuff, I, we, we, we made that decision, you know?

Mm-hmm. And well, it, it was also like a personal thing because my parents were looking forward to, to, to move to Spain. Mm-hmm. So. Although I’m in Barcelona and they’re in Madrid, you know, having family closer and yeah, they keep, you know, achieving their dreams, you know, their goals, moving to Spain and start a new life here.

And obviously being as much as, um, close as much as they can to me. So we’re. Together. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, it was more of like, oh, we have the opportunity, we take it and well, it, it also, um, turned [00:11:00] out that it was like a family goal to move to Spain. Mm-hmm.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: That’s really nice that your goals kind of, uh, met and, uh, you got, yeah.

Uh, only one way, like to Spain and, uh, yes. Here and develop. Cool. Um, yeah. What’s the biggest, ch, biggest, uh, difference between racing? What,

Alessia Dallafontana: so, in Mexico, the, the passion is huge and the atmosphere is very supportive. While in Spain, the structure is more demanding and competitive mm-hmm. With bigger greeds and stronger rivals.

But at the end, both exes have. Being important. You know, I mean, Mexico gave me my first steps and you know, that first confidence and Spain pushes me to keep evolving.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: So actually that big, uh, I know that, so in, in car, nice way, like all the stuff, um, where that Spain is more like, uh, motorcycle, uh, con uh, yes.

But on the other side, I [00:12:00] think also got not only one card circuit. Right. Um, so. Now you can mean the Valencia champ. Tell me more about this. What the hardest part of,

Alessia Dallafontana: so I think that the hardest part has been, you know, adapting to the intensity and consistency required, I mean. The level in Spain is very high, so you have to be at your best in, in every single session.

So I think, uh, that part of adapting, you know, because also Mexico and Spain, although we have the same language, they’re. They have different cultures. So it’s, I mean, I am, I’m, I’m 18 years now, but 17 years of my life, I, I, I lived in Mexico and yeah, I was pretty used to a way of living there. Um, and now moving to Spain, you know, it’s a new whole, um, adapting process.

Process. And. Probably, you know, [00:13:00] that part of adapting has been, uh, quite tough. But with the time, it’s, it’s, it’s easier now.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, so you like adapting to life and together adapting to the championship? Yeah. And uh, cart and everything like, uh, together in one moment actually. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Uh, pretty much. So you moved to Spain like, uh,

Alessia Dallafontana: yeah.

It was a year ago. Yeah. Mm-hmm. In September last year it was.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Okay. So still got a lot of time, mission, and uh, yeah. And definitely you go to, um. So what’s, uh, what’s the one moment you’re the most proud or find this, uh, academy?

Alessia Dallafontana: So, I mean, I, I, I don’t think I have like a specific moment. It’s more like through the whole year.

Mm-hmm. And it’s, um, you know, I’m really proud of my progress throughout the season, you know, my [00:14:00] individual evolution. You know, at the beginning it wasn’t, it wasn’t, um, what did you say? It wasn’t easy. Um, I mean, that part, I needed to adapt to different things and obviously the first impact is really high.

But, you know, with the time and, um, the people around me has, has made this progress progress, um, easier. Mm-hmm. And yeah. Um, looking back now and to all those moments, I am, I am really proud of, of that progress and yeah, always, um, keep head up and, you know, keep this progress. Evolving, you know,

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: it’s nice. So enjoy the moment, the people.

Yeah. Uh, who are with you. It’s actually really nice to have. Uh, so now I’m in some racing and then we got all these, so I’m really happy that in Spain with ing, uh, because Thank you. You know, ING can be sometimes, uh, yeah. Because you know, young guys, they’re really hot. [00:15:00] They, they just want to win all races so some spices can happen.

So yeah, it’s really cool that you adapt, uh, in a nice way to support. Um, so what plans do you have, uh, this year and, yeah.

Alessia Dallafontana: So for this year, the plan was, uh, competing at the Valentine championship and trying a test and like, you know, a testing session from, um, the Spanish championship. Mm-hmm. And I actually had the test, um, last weekend and in two weeks I have the last competition of the championship.

So for. This year, you know, 2025, um, you know, it’s finishing the season with that last race and, you know, um, for the next season it’s, you know, giving that step to the Spanish championship. Mm-hmm. You know, I agree. Uh, a bigger greed, um, more. More competition, you [00:16:00] know, and yeah, pretty much that, you know, giving that, that step forward.

Mm-hmm. And keep open in carting. So yeah. I’m, look, I’m looking forward to, to the Spanish championship.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, what class are you?

Alessia Dallafontana: It is, uh, in carting and it’s X 30 senior.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: So this is like, uh, an adult class. Yeah. Because I know that, uh, you know, when I was in ING can get into adult class 10 years old. Yes. So now you can feel like this.

Yeah. Yes. Alright. Yeah. Yeah. The,

Alessia Dallafontana: I think this, this category has like, uh, from 15 years to, I don’t know, probably 50, 60. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think you can, yeah. Yeah, you can definitely. I think there’s not like a limit on. Mm-hmm. About, you know? Mm-hmm.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. All right. And you mentioned that you’re inspired by F1.

What do you want? Like, would you like to open or maybe would like to, let’s just talk like, [00:17:00] uh, that’s your dream or something. Uh, or maybe you can, yeah. Take, uh, like both the opportunity.

Alessia Dallafontana: Yeah. So as you mentioned, you know, I feel very connected to their mission of giving visibility mm-hmm. And opportunities to, to women in motorsport.

And I mean, obviously seeing girls competing at such high levels, um, proves that it’s possible, you know, and it motivates me to, to keep working hard and I do that. Well, I hope that one day I can also inspire younger drivers as these drivers, um, inspire me. But yes, I think that probably my main goal. It’s, um, you know, formula raising.

I know it’s the, it’s, it’s the thing that I’ve been watching all these years and I really enjoy, and I can feel it through the tv, you know, and I’m, I’m, I’m really excited. Uh, I mean, I’m always [00:18:00] open to new categories, you know, and it will be nice either to try an endurance or a gt, you know? Mm-hmm. Just to, you know, have all the options and, you know, just to clarify in my mind, you know, and notice that there are different options mm-hmm.

From where I could continue. But yeah, I think that my main goal is from your racing.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Of course, it, uh, depends on the budget which you’re going to have. Yeah. Because yeah, formal. So yeah, it’s really cool that you like, okay, let’s take this opportunity and like you can jump to GT car anytime or into the formal.

It’s really nice. Um, you also mentioned that you. Like formal E Tell me more about, uh, how do you solve racing? Like, uh, are we going to have only, or you think that, uh, in,

Alessia Dallafontana: yeah, so I mean, I think that the future of electric racing is very promising. You know, Motorsport is evolving, you know, categories like F1 want to go to zero.

They have the zero project [00:19:00] and. Yeah, young drivers like me will, will have the chance to grow alongside this change. Um, obviously it’s not just about performance, but also about sustainability and innovation and yeah, I would really love to be part of this, of this transition. Um, yeah, I mean, I think, I mean the, the mission is it’s, you know, really innovative, but.

For example, formula One, I think they will achieve their zero mission, but I think that other categories will stay with the normal engine, with gasoline and the, you know, that war of the engine. Mm-hmm. But yeah, I think they will start to play with that mix of electrical part and then gym part.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: So like, uh, hybrids?

Yes. Like a P Yes. Class and lemon. Yes. Maybe we got also hybrids, the formal one, also the hybrid. Uh, yeah, they got the system so. I [00:20:00] think, you know, when, uh, we’re talking about, uh, hybrids, like on the road hybrid, uh, because like it’s more effective. You not connected to the charger all the time for racing Play more.

Yeah. Uh, from braking, in my opinion. Uh, only ev because ev cars, they heavier than hybrid. That’s a factor is really crucial in racing for sure.

Alessia Dallafontana: Yes.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Uh, you’re also finishing the high school and academy, so how you balance in your life? Is it hard for you to study, exercise it, the racing driver at the same time?

Alessia Dallafontana: Yes. So obviously the academy has been like a, a huge help on this part of balancing school and and sport. Yeah, but also like the school part has been very supportive. You know, if. I need to be out for the weekend, you know, uh, from Thursday, let’s say Thursday and Friday, I miss school. So, [00:21:00] um, I don’t know if I miss a, a lesson outta class or if I miss a test.

Um, the school helps me, you know, they, they, they give me, you know, this extra week to maybe study for the test and then, um, making it, or if I. In the case I lose, um, I don’t know, a lesson. Uh, the teacher, it’s, it’s there for helping me. You know, if I don’t know, for example, I ask for, um, my friends for help, and if I don’t really understand it or I’m not like fully into it, I can go to a teacher and mm-hmm she will help.

Because they’re really supportive in this, in this part, you know? Mm-hmm.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: It’s really nice. So you kind of like, uh, can miss some lessons and then like go to and work on the topic and then Yeah. Do test and it’s really nice. Um, you also got sports, uh, psychology. Um, from my side, I see that Central Hills.

Part of our life for sure. It’s a [00:22:00] big part of the sport. What excite you about the university?

Alessia Dallafontana: Yeah, yeah, so I mean, I’m really inspired by my, you know, my own experience. I mean, as you say, as you mentioned, sorry, our head is crucial and you know, at all times we need to be really focused and. That may sound easy, but applying it, it can be complicated.

Mm-hmm. You know, the mind can play, play some tricks that if you don’t know how to control them, it can play on the wrong side for yourself. So, for example, at the first, at first, I, I didn’t have a psychologist and from time to time it was tough, you know, to get out of my own thoughts. Mm-hmm. But. I mean, I obviously had, uh, my family there supporting me and, you know, trying to help, but it’s not the same, you know.

So when I arrived to the academy, I started [00:23:00] having sessions twice a month. Mm-hmm. And during race weekends. And that really helped me, you know, to be more confident, to stay concentrated. You know, I learned to deal with all these mm-hmm. Intrusive thoughts and also these feelings and yeah, simply to clear my mind to, to clear my mind.

And yeah, I think that with a clear mind, performance is better. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, I, I appreciate all this help so much that now I truly understand how important our mind is. And I mean, eh, personally, I’ve always been like a very sensitive person. Mm-hmm. And I’ve always liked helping others. So while watching, I don’t know, interviews from drivers, I noticed that there are many drivers that are dealing with these struggles and I don’t know, maybe, um.[00:24:00]

There’s not enough help to, to these kind of situations. So I don’t know, these kind of things makes me put myself like on their shoes. Mm-hmm. And, you know, to really understand them. And yeah, my goal is that one day I would, um, you know, like to help these, uh, or other drivers, you know mm-hmm. With sports psychology, because, I mean, it’s.

Very, it’s, it’s at very, it’s very, um, a dedicated, um, subject and it needs to be treated well, you know?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, absolutely agree with you. It’s,

Alessia Dallafontana: yeah. Um, it’s very important and I would really, I would really help like to help others.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: It’s really nice that it would like, uh, because you know, you’re talking about other sports, I think they had.

Cycle like long time, like lot longer than in racing for sure, because in racing, uh, you know, people rather rely [00:25:00] on them themselves, uh, than on this. But, uh, right now I think everybody on this part, we got our minds and we have to work with an everything things. There’s a lot of calm down before the race do after the race.

Yeah. It’s really nice that you’re interested actually. Yeah. Racing. Um, do you have any before the race? Calm down to,

Alessia Dallafontana: so, um, uh, I don’t think I have any ritual. You know, I’ve always heard other drivers saying they put first the right glove and then the left one, or first one shoe, and then the other one, I don’t really think I, I have this type of rituals, you know, I just go for it.

The first one is, mm-hmm. You know, I, I really don’t mind which one goes first, but, um, you know, before a race, I, I really like, you know, just to. Stay calm, you know, avoid stress, be with myself, maybe listen to some music, you know, just to disconnect from everything and everyone. Mm-hmm. [00:26:00] Um, this year I’ve been trying to get used to, to, um, you know, stretch.

Mm-hmm. Before every race. Because at the cart you get like many, many stress, you know, physical stress. Yeah. Maybe from a turn or this kind of stuff. So, um, yeah, I really like to stretch just to make sure I won’t injure myself. And I also like to, um, we have these like lights and play with mm-hmm. Uh, so like,

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: uh, how do you say it?

Play with reaction? Yeah.

Alessia Dallafontana: Yes.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Reaction test, something like,

Alessia Dallafontana: yes. Just to, um, you know, also train, um, your mind. Mm-hmm. You know, to. You know, get warm, you know? Mm-hmm. And yeah. Uh, when I’m already in the cart, you know, before getting out of track, you know, just to breathe and constantly remind that, you know, because sometimes we’re really focused on what we are doing and we need to be [00:27:00] concentrated in many stuff, you know, the turn or maybe the drive in front of us or behind of us, or maybe, uh, alongside us or.

You know, paying attention at many things that sometimes we forget to breathe and to be relaxed, and that’s when, uh, mistakes arrive. But yeah, you know, just to constantly remind myself to, to be calm, to breathe, and. While staying focused.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: So you just said think we got a lot of, uh, calm down, uh, our mind because when you’re less stressed, you are more focused.

Cool. And so can you give advice to girls who would like to, to car center jump into Formula Driver alongside with, with guys? So what advice give to them?

Alessia Dallafontana: So first of all, and I think that it’s the most important thing, it’s don’t let your dreams leap away. You know, I think, um, that dreams are very important and that you always need [00:28:00] to, to catch them.

Hmm. And yeah, I mean, I think that a good first step is to go to the nearest carting track and, you know, ask for advice. You know, maybe talk to local drivers or maybe, um. Go to the local teams, you know, each one of them will have different, uh, things to offer. Mm-hmm. And after discussing with your family, and you can make a decision, you know, with the, the, the best decision for yourself.

And yeah. But I think that always keeping in mind that there is always a way in, you know, and if the door doesn’t open, there is always a window. So don’t give up because there, there is always a way in, you know?

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. Here’s a lot of opportune. Round out, not joining, uh, open wheelers, ut cars with some racing, which is moments.

Uh, so yeah, a lot of different options. Track and inspire people, people [00:29:00] as you help them as well. Uh,

Alessia Dallafontana: yeah. And I also think that, you know, being grateful with the people who support you, you know? Mm-hmm. Because at the end, it’s a big family, you know? Um, your family is there, your friends are there. Obviously your team is there, but I also, um, would like to add that this, the, the support of sponsors is really important, you know, and I mean, car is very demanding at, at all levels and, you know, well, I’m always looking for new sponsors.

I would like myself. Um, to thank and mention these two sponsors that been helping me throughout this year. Mm. Eh, we group that is a last Mile logistics company and WBA group. A leader in digital transformation. They’re based in Spain, but they’re operating worldwide. Worldwide. And [00:30:00] I mean, they help companies grow and push boundaries, which is like the same spirit I carry with me in sports.

So, yeah, I think that one of, um, the biggest, uh, advice I would give is to always be grateful because there is a huge family from behind that are supporting you and. Yeah. I think that without them, this wouldn’t be possible. So yeah, always be great with this opportunity.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah, for sure. Uh, you’re right. And also can tell, viewers can find you, like follow your career, going to see you in formal one and, uh, would like to see your way, your journey.

Alessia Dallafontana: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, in social media, I am with the same name, with these. Fontana. Mm-hmm. Pretty much in every social media I have the same name, so, yeah. Okay. So [00:31:00]

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: just, uh, buy the naked and find, uh, yeah, pretty girl. Please follow it through. Thank you. Yeah. Once again, thank you so much. You’re really positive.

Uh, I like your wives. Uh, wish you luck in your racing career. And yeah. Thank you. Hopefully we’re going to see you in formal one.

Alessia Dallafontana: Hopefully I’ll be waiting for you. Yeah, no, but thank you for having me. Yeah, it’s, it’s a great opportunity and I’m, I’m really thankful with you guys for it.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. Once for,

Alessia Dallafontana: for having the chance, you know, to, to talk with you.

Lyubov Ozeretskovskaya: Yeah. Thank you so much, uh, for your time.

Alessia Dallafontana: See you.

Crew Chief Brad: Innate eSports focuses on SIM racing events in digital tournaments. They bring eSports content to fans and sponsorship opportunities to brands while maximizing audience reach across multiple sports industries and [00:32:00] platforms. eSports is a woman-led company where diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is in their DNA and their platform aims to combat bullying and cheating to help make the eSports world as safe and fair as possible.

To learn more, be sure to log onto www.initesports.gg or follow them on social media at init eSports. Join their discord, check out their YouTube channel, or follow their live content via switch.

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For more episodes like this, tune in each week for more exciting and educational content from organizations like The Exotic Car Marketplace, the Motoring Historian, break Fix, and many others. If you’d like to support Grand Touring Motor Sports and the Motoring Podcast Network, sign up for one of our many sponsorship tiers at www.patreon.com/gt Motorsports.

Please note that the content, opinions and materials presented and expressed in this episode are those of its creator, and this episode has been [00:33:00] published with their consent. If you have any inquiries about this program, please contact the creators of this episode via email or social media as mentioned in the episode.

A Leap to Spain: Racing, School, and Self-Discovery

At just 18, Alessia moved from Mexico to Spain to join a sports academy that balances racing with education and wellness. “In Mexico, it was hard to juggle school and karting,” she explains. “Here, I train on track, work with a physical trainer, and even have access to a psychologist and nutritionist—all while attending school.” The move wasn’t just professional – it was personal. Her family relocated to Madrid, making the transition a shared dream.

Alessia speaks candidly about the mental challenges of racing. “Our minds can play tricks,” she says. “At first, I didn’t have a psychologist, and it was hard to get out of my own thoughts.” Now, with regular sessions, she’s learned to manage stress, stay focused, and breathe through the pressure.

Her experience has inspired a new goal: to one day help other drivers as a sports psychologist. “Performance improves with a clear mind,” she says. “I want to be part of that support system.”

Advice for Aspiring Female Racers

While some drivers have quirky pre-race rituals, Alessia’s approach is grounded in mindfulness. She stretches, plays reaction games, and listens to music to center herself. “Sometimes we forget to breathe,” she says. “Staying calm helps avoid mistakes.”

Alessia’s message to girls dreaming of motorsport is clear: “Don’t let your dreams slip away. If the door doesn’t open, there’s always a window.” She encourages young women to visit local karting tracks, talk to teams, and explore all the pathways into racing- from open wheelers to GT cars to sim racing. Her story is a reminder that motorsport isn’t just about speed—it’s about support, strategy, and soul.

More Screen to Speed…

Dive into the journeys of remarkable individuals making waves in sim racing and bridging the virtual with the real. From the thrill of digital circuits to the roar of real-life racetracks, they explore the passion, dedication, and innovation that drives the world of motorsports. They hear from athletes, creators, and pioneers sharing their stories, insights, and the powerful ways sim racing is connecting communities and creating pathways into motorsports.

INIT eSports focuses on sim racing events and digital tournaments. They bring eSports content to fans and sponsorship opportunities to brands, while maximizing audience reach across multiple sports, industries, and platforms. INIT eSports is a woman-led company where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is in their DNA, and their platform aims to combat bullying and cheating to help make the eSports world as safe and fair as possible. To learn more, be sure to logon to www.initesports.gg today or follow them on social media @initesports, join their discord, check out their YouTube Channel, or follow their live content via Twitch.

At INIT eSports, founder and CEO Stefy Bau doesn’t just settle for the ordinary. She creates extraordinary experiences by producing thrilling online competitions and real-life events that transcend the boundaries of the eSports universe. And she’s here with us on Break/Fix to share her story, and help you understand why you need to get more involved in the world of eSports.

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