TrueCar/Star Girl Racing Return for 2nd Year in Rally America
After their first year in Rally America where they finished 4th in overall 2WD and won the 2012 B-Spec Championship – the first all-female team to win any championship in Rally America’s history, Verena Mei and Leanne Junilla return to Sno*Drift today in Atlanta MI where temperatures will reach a low of – 9 degrees and snow is expected. The competition will be intense with both Ken Block and the 2012 overall champion, David Higgins both running.
"I've never been more excited to race than I am at Sno*Drift this year.” Said Mei, “Now that I have a rally season under my belt, have been working with Leanne for a year now, and more confidence behind the wheel, this race is a completely different race for me than last year."
The Girls of TrueCar Racing on Comcast SportsNet
The Girls of TrueCar Racing on Comcast SportsNet
Click here to watch them on a live taping: Comcast SportsNet TrueCar Racing
Some Girls Chase Boys, Verena Mei Just Passes Them
Don’t underestimate an Asian woman with mission and a passion. Verena Mei is a member of TrueCar Racing’s “Women Empowered” Initiative and a Rally America Driver. She’s appeared in the blockbuster movies “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” and “Rush Hour 2.” I got a chance to meet and talk with the beautiful and affable “fastest Asian-American female in the US” at the Indy Grand Prix Sonoma races this past Saturday.
TrueCar Racing Team in San Francisco Chronicle "All-female Team has True Passion for Racing Cars"
All the women of TrueCar Racing are at Sonoma this weekend to promote the team, although Legge and Shea Holbrook (in the Pirelli World Challenge series) are the only ones racing. That includes Emilee Tominovich, only 19, who is on track to join the American Le Mans series, and Rally America B-Spec series champion Verena Mei.
TrueCar Racing, the brainchild of CEO Scott Painter, is the first all-female racing team, with six drivers in six different series . . Mei is a former Hollywood stunt driver ("The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift"), and she and co-driver Leanne Junnila are the first all-female team to win a season Rally Car title.
"It's something that has changed my life," Mei said. "We've all been pursuing racing individually, and not having the tools to get to where we want to be has been the biggest challenge for all of us. ... Now we really have a chance to compete at the top levels."
The TrueCar Racing Team on Sacramento ABC Morning News 10 at 9
While in Northern California for the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, the TrueCar Racing Drivers: Katherine Legge, Verena Mei, Ashley Freiberg, Shannon McIntosh and Emilee Tominovich, make a stop in Sacramento for an interview on ABC News 10 at 9!
Source: YouTube Jeff Mahar
TrueCar Rally Driver Verena Mei Wins 2012 Rally America B-Spec National Championship in Her First Season - First All-Female Team to Win a Rally America Championship
First All-Female Team to Win a Rally America Championship
Santa Monica, CA, August 15, 2012 -- Rally America announced today that TrueCar Rally Driver Verena Mei and co-driver Leanne Junnila have been awarded the inaugural Rally America B-Spec National Championship driving the #335 TrueCar Ford Fiesta, making them the first all-female team to win a Rally America Championship. B-Spec rally cars are modified for safety and durability but retain the same engine and horsepower as the standard consumer vehicle.
Verena & Leanne taking NEFR by storm
"This title means a lot to me as a member of the TrueCar Racing Women Empowered initiative, and to all of my TrueCar Racing teammates, because now we're part of Rally America history. When people look back on who won the inaugural season of the B-Spec Rally America Championship, they'll see that it was a women's team, and that will never change” added Mei.
Mei’s TrueCar rally team brought numerous years of rally experience and passion for the sport in support of her first year of competing in the Rally America National Championship, and are a huge part of her success this season.
Mei had high praise for her co-driver, Leanne Junnila, her sponsors and New Hampshire-based Team O’Neil Rally School.
Verena & Leanne going for the win at New England Forest Rally
“It's such an honor and a huge accomplishment for me and the TrueCar Rally Team, to win the B-Spec Championship in it's inaugural year. My amazing co-driver, Leanne Junnila, has taught me so much and our trust and reliance on each other in the car was how we were able to take the championship” Mei added “I'm so fortunate to have the incredible support of TrueCar, Virgin, Team O'Neil, and Tokidoki, all of whom believed in making my dream a reality. I thank all of them immensely, and I definitely wouldn't be at this point, without them behind me.”
Mei and Junnila will finish their 2012 season at the Olympus Rally in Washington on September 22-23, in the TrueCar Fiesta #335 aka "Trixie".
For more information about TrueCar Racing, please visit www.truecar.com/ racing. You can follow TrueCar Racing on Twitter (@TrueCarRacing) and become a fan of TrueCar Racing on Facebook.
Follow Verena Mei at www.verenamei.com
www.facebook.com/VerenaMeiRacing
Twitter/Instagram: @VerenaMei
The TrueCar Racing Women Empowered initiative was created to support top female racecar drivers in premier racing series, along with rising stars across several developmental series. Through this program TrueCar empowers high-potential women with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the track, including full sponsorship support with top-tier racing teams, professional coaching and training and marketing exposure and publicity. TrueCar Racing currently sponsors women in the following series: IndyCar, Star Mazda, USF2000, World Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup and Rally America.
TrueCar Rally Team Verena Mei & Leanne Junnila Win Rally America B-Spec National Championship
Inaugural B Spec Championship Claims First Title Winner
Verena Mei & Leanne Junnila 2012 Rally America B-Spec Champions
TrueCar Racing’s Verena Mei from Littleton, NH and co-driver Leanne Junnila from Calgary, Alberta made Rally America history as the first team to win the inaugural B Spec Championship and the first all-female team to win a Rally America Championship. The team amassed 120 points over five Rally America National Championship events with the chance to add more at the Olympus Rally in Olympia, WA on September 22-23rd. Though their success is partly due to showing up more than their B Spec rivals, the team pushed hard to win all their B Spec events. TrueCar Racing only lost to James Robinson from Delaware, OH and James Guitar from Marysville, OH at February’s Rally in the 100 Acre Wood.
"This title means a lot to me as driver of the TrueCar Racing Women Empowered Initiative, and my TrueCar Racing teammates, because now we're part of Rally America history,” added Mei, “When people look back on who won the inaugural season of the B-Spec Championship, they'll see that it was a women's team, and that will never change. My personal goal is to inspire and empower women that they can accomplish anything."
Verena in action at New England Forest Rally
Mei is in her first full season campaigning a 2011 TrueCar Ford Fiesta as the only national all-female rally team. She comes from a drifting and time attack background before making a huge commitment to rally racing. She began her rally career at the 2011 New England Forest Rally under Team O’Neil Rally School’s guidance to learn the secrets of speed on dirt. (Get to know Verena Mei better: rally-america.com/news/latest/1118/)
Source: Rally America
TrueCar Racing Driver Verena Mei Currently in 5th Place in the 2WD Division of the Rally America National Championship Series
Leads 36 Other Drivers in Overall Rally America National Championship Standings
TrueCar Racing Driver Verena Mei finished this weekend’s Rally America National Championship event, the New England Forest Rally, in 7th Place in the hotly contested 2WD Division. Her finish was especially significant as it was the one-year anniversary of her first career rally race at the same event last year. Mei has finished five of five races this season, which is a critical factor in the physically and mentally punishing rally racing format that takes place at very high speeds on rough dirt roads, in all weather and often with low visibility.
With one event left, Mei stands at 5th place in the 2WD division, with her #335 TrueCar Fiesta the only production car in the top 5. While others in the class compete with highly modified versions of the stock car, including added horsepower, Mei’s TrueCar Ford Fiesta carries the same 1.6-liter 120-horsepower engine that powers the consumer version that can be purchased on TrueCar.com. In only her first year competing in the sport Mei is also ranked 15th overall nationally ahead of 36 other drivers.
Verena and Porcino at the New England Forest Rally
Join us in celebrating Verena’s one year anniversary in rally racing! She always brings her good luck charm, Porcino, and we know he has loved every minute of the ride! Check out some pictures of Verena and Porcino at the New England Forest Rally below, and stay tuned because Verena and Porcino are taking the rally world by storm!
TrueCar Racing Driver Verena Mei Announces First Race Under TrueCar Racing’s Virgin Group Affiliate Sponsorship and Entry in the 2012 New England Forest Rally
TrueCar Racing Driver Verena Mei will compete July 13th and 14th in the Rally America National Championship Series event The New England Forest Rally in Newry, Maine. The New England Forest Rally (NEFR) is the fifth of six Rally America National Championship Events. Mei returns to the challenging logging roads of Maine on her one-year anniversary of National Championship competition in position for a strong finish.
Mei's sponsor, TrueCar has added Virgin Group as an affiliate sponsor and the #335 TrueCar Fiesta will be adding the world-renown Virgin logo on the race car as well the TrueCar Racing team uniforms and helmet at this weekend's race. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group brand is recognized globally and represents the pinnacle of innovation, entertainment, lifestyle and adventure. “It is incredibly exciting to have my amazing sponsor TrueCar add an affiliate sponsor of the caliber of Virgin Group,” said Mei. “It says so much for TrueCar Women Empowered and frankly it’s a personally motivating and emotional experience to get behind the wheel and see the TrueCar and Virgin logos on my hood,” she continued.
Virgin Group Partners with TrueCar Racing in Support of Women Empowered Initiative
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 13, 2012 – TrueCar Racing has announced today that Virgin Group, a leading global brand synonymous with innovation, entertainment, lifestyle and adventure and one of the world’s most recognized brands, is joining as an affiliate sponsor of TrueCar Racing, the world’s first all-female racing team and “Women Empowered” initiative, for the rest of the IndyCar season and 2012 Women Empowered racing calendar. IndyCar is one of the premier motor sports leagues watched worldwide. Financial terms of the deal are undisclosed.
Exclusive Interview with All Female Racing Team TrueCar
Racing is a man dominated sport with few woman drivers. This race car team is out to change.They are the first ever all women race team called TrueCar. They are a highly driven, motivated, and hard working team that just goes out there to win. TrueCar provides full sponsorship and professional coaching and training. To find out more about TrueCar, click here.
TrueCar Racing Team
Emilee: Before the race, you go on the grid. I’m super nervous, I feel like my stomach is about to explode. You do a Pace lab to warm up. When the green flag drops, I am so nervous and you basically want to drive as hard as you can.
These six talented drivers have come a long way to get to where they are at. Emille Tominovich, Shea Holbrook, Verena Mei, Shannon McIntosh, Katherine Legge, and Ashley Freiberg all have just one simple goal: to win. I recently had the pleasure to chat with three of the girls, Emille, Shea, and Verena, about how they got to where they are, what it’s like to be out on the track, and what they hope to accomplish.
What made you want to race cars every day?
Emilee: I got into racing two years ago and right now I’m a junior in college. I started out playing soccer in High School and then went to the track with my dad after I got injured. A year later I got my SCCA license and just went for it.
Verena: The automotive industry. I love everything about it. I wanted to get into racing because I love the passion that everyone has for it.
Shea Holbrook - Pirelli World Challenge
Shea: I started racing about six years ago. Five years ago, I traded in water skis for a pair of wheels. I thought in the beginning you’re either a zero or a hero. It is the hardest to get it in to because it is not only a hard career, but hard for a young person and even more for a woman. When I realized I had a passion for racing is when I gripped a wheel for the first time. I grew up water skiing thinking I’ll do it for rest of life. When I quit cold turkey, I found another sport that changed my life.
What was or who was your inspiration?
Shea: My dad had a lot to do with it. I am an only child and thank god or I might have not done this (laughs). I was fifteen years old when I had done this three day event. I realized that there was more to it and it was his way to see if I would invest all my time and have fun in this career. My dad invested a lot in me and racing. But, having a role model and wanting to be exactly like them is ridiculous. Why would you want to be like someone else? We all look up to different people.
Verena: My grandmother was my inspiration throughout my life. She wasn’t alive when I started racing. I was always thinking of her and doing this for her. Denise McCluggage also was an inspiration as she was an automotive journalist and rally racer who won her class in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally.
Emilee: My inspiration was my dad. About a year before I got into it, he used to play golf before the track opened. I’ve been hooked ever since and my family has been super supportive through it all.
What’s the feeling like when you’re out there on the track?
Emilee Tominovich - Playboy MX-5 Cup
Emilee: Before the race, you go on the grid. I’m super nervous, I feel like my stomach is about to explode. You do a Pace lab to warm up. When the green flag drops, I am so nervous and you basically want to drive as hard as you can.
Shea: I think if racing was easy, everyone would do it. Not everyone realizes how much mental preparation it takes. It is mentally and physically draining. I think everyone gets the jitter bugs however. It is not just the driver; it is everybody on the team and the pressure builds up for everyone. You got to turn off what’s not important and turn on what is. I’ve been racing for almost 6 years. As a driver, at the end of the day, you are the last piece to fit in the puzzle and need to finish the job. I get a little bit of the nerves and excitement and have to calm myself down. It comes down to how you focus mentally. You have drivers say “watch out, I’m coming for you”. They try to psych us out. We’re doing this not just to race, but to win. And that is what the TrueCar racing team is.
Verena: I do rally racing which is racing in mountains with whatever weather happens to be present. I get butterflies the day before the race as you never seen the roads before. Day before the race we get to drive it at 30mph. During the race, I have a co-driver who gives me notes throughout the race. Rally racing involves a lot of focus and what my co-driver says, I got to listen. The roads are always different conditions if it might have snowed or rained the night before. We never see the other cars unless we see them on the side of the road or if we pass or catch up to them. It’s all a mental thing. When there is five seconds before the race, my focus comes in, but my vision is blurred as I get a pinpoint vision of what line I need to take.
What is your favorite car to race?
Verena Mei - Rally America
Shea: The Honda Civic Si 2012 is the current one I race. I’ve raced BMWs, Porsche’s, Honda’s, and Acura’s. We race what the average American drives. We’ve worked hard to get to where we are today. My favorite, I guess, is the current one I drive but it’s hard to really answer that question because at the end of the day, we’re drivers and we’ll drive anything.
Emilee: I think Shea said it all. I think we all like to get in anything they let us drive.
Verena: We race all kinds of cars, but I have to say for rallies, it is the Ford Fiesta.
What advice can you give someone about following your dreams?
Emilee: Whatever you want to do, go for it. I worked hard and I knew what I wanted to do.
Verena: Same as Emilee. If you have a passion for it, you will make it happen. That’s why we all are here on this racing team. There’s is still so much to come.
Shea: My dad and I came up with a quote: “Fear is a state of mind, will is an action taken” I live by that quote. Like Verena said, it is an uphill climb. Men and women have different uphill battles when it comes to motorsports. There have been times I thought it would not happen. Not giving up hope, my dad kept reminding about the quote. If you believe in yourself and have a strong foundation you can do anything. Women that have been in motorsports have fantastic years, bad years, and back and forth. It is almost impossible to get that perfect lap. It is like one in 100,000. It is not easy to do but it is possible. In fifty years, I’ll look back and know we are part of history and the six of us worked hard and were empowered. It is an emotional ride for all of us.
TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei Finishes 5th in the National Championship 2WD Division of the 2012 Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei and her Co-Driver Leanne Junnila finished the fast and extremely narrow stages of the The Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (commonly know as the STPR) in 5th Place in the highly competitive 2WD Division of the Rally America National Championship. The TrueCar B-Spec Fiesta #335 was dubbed "The Little Fiesta That Could" by fans and competitors alike as Verena and Leanne climbed from back in the pack and steadily moved up to compete with highly modified entries and European Spec Ford Fiesta R2's.
Porcino’s Indianapolis 500 Adventure!
Our very own Porcino got the chance to hang out at the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day weekend with TrueCar rally driver Verena Mei! Porcino was incredibly excited to be able to attend, and luckily for us he took tons of pictures!
TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei Ready to Run STPR: "The Fastest Rally in North America" Mei Holds the Lead in Rally America National B Spec Championship
TrueCar Rally America driver Verena Mei will compete in the 4th Round of the Rally America National Championship Series, The Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (commonly know as STPR) in Wellsboro, PA June 1 – 2.
Mei and her co-driver, Leanne Junnila of Calgary, compete as the only all-female national team in Rally America. The duo solidified their lead in Rally America's B-Spec National Championship after an impressive top ten finish at the Oregon Trail Rally earlier this month.
The STPR course is not only fast, with speeds in the dense forest reaching more than 100 mph, but also slippery and very dangerous. Rally America is quoted as saying "this rally is not for the feint of heart."
Historic Female Firsts At The Indy 500
On the chance that you’re not a fan of auto racing, then you probably don’t know that this past Sunday, May 27th was the 96th annual Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The event, billed as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, is considered one of the most significant motorsports events in the world, which is why we think it’s pretty cool that a double dose of WYSK-y style history was just made there by British born, female driver, Katherine Legge. . .
Today, at age 31, Katherine leads theTrueCar Racing Team, the only all-female race team focused on empowering high-potential women to become championship racecar drivers. The team’s primary goal, however, is the same as every other team in auto racing: winning.
Female Racecar Drivers: “Half The World Loves Us And Half The World Hates Us”
Shea Holbrook, Verena Mei, and Emilee Tominovich are part of TrueCar’s “Women Empowered” team, and they’re at the Indy 500 this weekend to support teammate Katherine Legge, the ninth woman to compete in that famous race. They’ll also be competing in their own races this year, including the Pirelli World Challenge, Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup SCCA Pro Series, and Rally America.
Verena Mei and Porcino Finish Top 10 in the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally
Portland, OR, May 9, 2012 – TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei and her Co-Driver Leanne Junnila finished one of the most technical and demanding events in the Rally America National Championship at the top of the Factory B-Spec Class and top 10 overall in the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally, in a field which included 350 horsepower, AWD Open Class cars and competition from drivers including former British Rally Championship, Winner David Higgins.
Source: tokidoki
TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei Finishes Top 10 in the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally
Portland, OR, May 9, 2012 -- TrueCar Rally America Driver Verena Mei and her Co-Driver Leanne Junnila finished one of the most technical and demanding events in the Rally America National Championship at the top of the Factory B-Spec Class and top 10 overall in the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally, in a field which included 350 horsepower, AWD Open Class cars and competition from drivers including former British Rally Championship, Winner David Higgins.