The Heart of Racing Wins at Road America

Grisham and Greenemeier score first podium in Silver class. Newell double podiums in GT America

Elkhart Lake, Wisc. (18 August 2024) - Battling through inconsistent weather conditions, the Heart of Racing scored a win and four third place finishes during the SRO GT America powered by AWS and Pirelli GT4 America event at Road America this weekend. 

Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenemeier scored the duo’s first podium in their second race weekend in the Pirelli GT4 America Silver class with the No. 26 Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Grisham was first up to qualify Saturday morning, securing a fifth overall starting position with a 2:16.948-second fast lap. Greenemeier set the sixth fastest lap in the Silver category. 

Grisham was quick to move her way from fourth in class to third when the field went back to green after a turn 1, first lap incident caused the field to slow. As the 30 minute mark of the 60 minute race approached, Grisham lead her class for several laps before pitting to put Greenemeier behind the wheel. Greenemeier was able to keep pace with the other Silver drivers crossing the finish line fifth in class and eighth overall. 

Sunday morning, Greenemeier started from sixth with a field of AM and PRO-AM drivers between her and the rest of the Silver class. The Colorado native was able to maintain position when handing the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 to Grisham at the halfway mark. The Heart of Racing Team had a flawless pitstop to gain a spot on pit lane, soon after the field saw its first caution of the race. Grisham made her way up to fourth between two caution periods, but the No. 26 Heart of Racing team was able to capitalize on mistakes of other teams scoring their first podium with a third place finish. 

“Great weekend overall, today (Sunday) we were able to get our first podium in the Silver class,” said Greenemeier. “I made a couple of mistakes in the race, but (Hannah) Grisham made up for them. The team did a great job with the strategy call this weekend, switching our driver lineups, it really paid off. I’m super grateful for the opportunity. I know Grisham and I are hoping to keep this forward momentum at Barber in a few weeks. Congratulations to Roman and Gray on their win in PRO-AM. Yeah, just a great weekend for the team!”

“I think we just played a smart race, we kept the car clean and optimized on running a little bit of a different strategy,” said Grisahm. “At  the end of today’s (Sunday’s) race we were able to capitalize on other people’s mistakes. It’s just a really exciting weekend for the team. It is our first podium in Silver, and I think it's just beginning. I'm ready for the future and what Hannah (Greenemeier) and I can do together. Next is getting that win in Silver. Thank you to the whole team, for all their work and for this opportunity.”

The No. 24 Heart of Racing Team made up of Roman De Angelis and Gray Newell tried a new qualifying strategy for the weekend. De Angelis was first to qualify for the duo securing pole position (2:16.342 seconds) in the Pirelli GT4 America PRO-AM category. Newell took his turn in the second round of qualifying setting a fast lap of 2:17.321 seconds earning a 14th overall starting position for race two. 

De Angelis started the first race in the Aston Martin Vantage under sunny skies. A first lap accident slowed the field under caution for three laps before going back to green for the remainder of the race. De Angelis worked his way to lead the entire GT4 field as the halfway point approached. Newell took over the second half of the 60 minute race, after losing two spots on pit lane Newell ultimately crossed the finish line in third to secure another podium finish. 

Newell was first up for Sunday’s morning race starting from ninth in class. Newell passed over a clean Aston Martin Vantage to De Angelis. The No. 24 team was able to make up a few positions through pit strategy. De Angelis sat in fifth when he left pit lane, but quickly made his way to lead the PRO-AM field when a second caution came out. The field went back to green with five minutes remaining, the Canadian defended his lead to score the duo’s first win of the season. 

“It was a very good weekend for Gray and myself,” said De Angelis. “We had two good results, a third and our first win of the season. We tried a bit of a deviated strategy this weekend, which seemed to work out for us. I had a lot of fun in both races! I’m super happy for the No. 26 car as well, they earned their first Silver podium. Most importantly, Gray and I were able to claw back some points in the championship, and I think we're second now. I’m looking forward to going to Barber in a few weeks, and hopefully we can get another good result. It's such a great track and I’m excited to go back after I think it has been four years since I was there last.” 

Newell’s first GT America powered by AWS race of the weekend was filled with heavy rain for the first half of the forty minute race. Newell started from third, but by the end of the first lap the Washington state native was in second. Newell bid his time as he made consistent laps around the 4.048-mile circuit. With just nine minutes remaining and the sun starting to appear, Newell made the pass for the lead and was able to maintain the lead until the final lap, unfortunately the team could not compete with the Porsche. Newell scored his second second place finish of the season. 

Sunday morning saw Newell’s second GT America powered by AWS race of the weekend. Newell started from third once again, but on the first lap in turn six Newell suffered a spin forcing him back to seventh. Within two laps of the spin, Newell was already making up positions and with 25 minutes remaining he was back up to sit fourth. Newell passed for third on lap 14 where he maintained position to cross the finish line and earn another podium result. 

The Heart of Racing’s SRO program will head to Alabama to complete the second to last round of the season at Barber Motorsports Park, September 6-8th. In the meantime the Heart of Racing Team will be competing with IMSA at VIRginia International Raceway (August 23-25) and WEC at Circuit of the Americas (August 30 - September 1).