Last Updated 3 days by Amnon J. Jobi | Amnon Front Page
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Shift Up Now Foundation will award over quarter of a million dollar in grants to talented female drivers across 12 different racing series.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Shift Up Now wants to inspire the next generation of racers. “We believe that with equal funding, and equal opportunities, we will see more women on the podium, and winning races, allowing them the ability to climb the motorsport ladder.”
Since 2022, the foundation has assisted female athletes in motorsports by supplying funding to access better equipment and resources.
This year’s funding will support 15 drivers, including Tatiana Calderón, who is competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Gradient Racing.
The 11 other Shift Up Now Athletes include:
- Sabré Cook – Porsche Carrera Cup North America (JDX Racing)
- Ashley Freiberg – Porsche Carrera Cup North America (Kellymoss Racing)
- Loni Unser – Porsche Sprint Challenge North America (Kellymoss Racing)
- Erika Hoffman – Porsche Sprint Challenge North America (Kellymoss Racing)
- Laura Hayes – Thunder Bunny Racing (series TBA)
- Nicole Havrda – FR Americas (Kiwi Motorsports)
- Christina Lam – IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (Rockwell Auto Development)
- Michele Abbate – Spring Mountain Racing Series (Grr Racing)
- Sarah Montgomery – World Racing League (AE Victory Racing)
- Taylor Ferns – 500 Sprint Car Tour and USAC Silver Crown (Taylor Ferns Racing)
- Sally Mott – Mazda MX-5 Cup (JTR Motorsports Engineering)
In addition, three development athletes will receive grants to support their transition from karting into professional motorsports.
The Shift Up Now Foundation remains committed to achieving gender equality in motorsports, helping women overcome financial barriers that often limit their opportunities. Women get less than 10% of the global sports marketing sponsorship spending, Shift Up Now said. “In motorsport, where where men and women can compete equally when afforded equal opportunities we see this funding disparity manifest with a lack of female athletes able to find the financial support.”