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Ashley Freiberg
NationalityAmerican
BornAshley Lynn Freiberg
(1991-11-22) November 22, 1991 (age 33)
Homer Glen, Illinois
IMSA SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2016
Starts6
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums1
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Previous series
2014–2015, 2018
2017
2013
2010–2012
2008–2011		Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge
Star Mazda Championship
Skip Barber Racing

Ashley Lynn Freiberg (born November 22, 1991) is an American racing driver who has competed in open-wheel, sports car and endurance racing. She became the first woman to win a Skip Barber Racing championship title in 2010, and the first female to claim outright race victories in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge and the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

After working as a timing and scoring official at her local kart track, Freiberg began karting at 13, achieving early success by winning five championships. She later progressed to car racing in Skip Barber and Formula Mazda, winning 25 races and two series titles in the former in 2010. Funding issues caused Freiberg to drop out of Skip Barber after four wins in 2011, but she later drove for JDC MotorSports in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship, finishing ninth in the points standings.

Freiberg moved to sports car racing in 2013, entering the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge before moving to the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge in 2014 and 2015, earning two outright victories. She debuted in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2016, running a partial schedule in the Prototype Challenge and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) categories. Her best finish was second in GTD at the 12 Hours of Sebring, taking class and outright podiums for DAC Motorsports in the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship.

Personal life

[edit]

Freiberg was born on November 22, 1991, and raised in Homer Glen, Illinois.[1] She is the daughter of Chuck and Donna Freiberg;[2] no members of her family had any prior involvement in auto racing.[3] Freiberg is a 2010 graduate of Lockport Township High School;[4] she graduated early due to a good academic performance.[5] Freiberg does cyclo-cross, hiking, rock climbing, and skate skiing in the mountains of Vermont to prepare herself for auto racing events.[6][7]

Biography

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Karting (2004–2008)

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Freiberg's earliest racing experience came at the age of ten, when both her elder brothers took up the hobby. At the time, she did not believe girls could compete,[8] but after skateboarding,[8] playing basketball[5] and soccer and studying karate,[9] she was attracted to racing. At the age of 11, she acted as a timing and scoring official at a local kart track.[10] Freiberg made her go-karting debut at the age of 13, and her father took her to the Jim Hall Karting School in Ventura, California in 2004. In December 2004, Freiberg made her national debut in a World Karting Association (WKA) event at Daytona International Speedway's road course.[11][1] Her father supported her financially.[5] In her first season, Freiberg finished fourth overall in the regional Championship Enduro Series (CES) and seventh overall in the national WKA points standings in 2005. In 2006, she raced in the Junior Sprint category because she was too young to progress to other classes. Freiberg took her first race wins in regional and national karting series, and went undefeated in CES, winning two championship titles. She also won her first WKA title in 2006 and two more karting championships over the next two years.[11][1]

Junior open-wheel racing (2007–2012)

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Freiberg's achievements in karting led to her enrollment in both the two and three-day Advanced Skip Barber Race Schools in Daytona, beginning her open-wheel racing career.[1][12] Soon after, she also joined Lyn St. James's Women in the Winner's Circle Driver Development Academy in Phoenix, Arizona,[11][9] setting for herself the goal of reaching the IndyCar Series.[6] In 2007, Freiberg finished fourth in her debut Skip Barber race, finishing six times in the podium and taking nine more top-five finishes during the 2008 Skip Barber season. Freiberg placed fourth in her debut Formula Mazda race in 2008, and Mazda Motorsports invited her to enter a round of the Skip Barber National Championship, in which she finished sixth.[1] In 2009, Freiberg won the races held at Sebring International Raceway, Road America, Road Atlanta and the Carolina Motorsports Park.[9] Freiberg also raced in the 2009 Skip Barber National Championship, becoming the first woman to claim a podium finish in that race[7] and placing sixth overall in the points standings.[1]

In mid-2009, Freiberg drove in both of the Autobahn Country Club races in the Star Mazda Championship for Team GDT.[13] She won 25 Skip Barber races and two series championships in 2010, making her the first woman to win an overall Barber Series title and a Skip Barber National Championship race.[7] In addition, Freiberg was the first woman to win a Skip Barber National Series feature race at the New Jersey Motorsports Park,[14] and the first to take a race victory in the Skip Barber Mazda MX-5 Sedan Championship.[7][15] She also finished fifth for Team GDT in the 2010 Star Mazda Championship race at Autobahn Country Club.[16][17][18] Freiberg's results over the course of the season led to her receiving the Coach's Choice Award as "the best all-round driver in the series."[6] She was also the second woman after Danica Patrick to earn a nomination for the Team USA Scholarship that year.[19]

Freiberg won four races in 2011 before she was required to withdraw from racing due to funding issues.[7][17] As a result, she visited race tracks and spoke to team owners who declared an interest in her through various channels because she was unable to employ a publicist.[12][15] Towards the end of 2011, Freiberg was contacted by an official from TrueStar's driver development program Women Empowered Initiative, which had watched her compete in the Skip Barber championship season.[9][16] This led to JDC MotorSports signing her for the full 2012 Star Mazda Championship, partnering her with Juan Piedrahita.[16][17] Although she entered the series with the goal of finishing in the top-five or on the podium, Freiberg frequently changed her expectations over the course of the season.[9] She took six top-ten finishes, with a sixth place at the Grand Prix of Baltimore being her best result of the season. Freiberg was 11th in the final points standings.[7][17]

Sports car and endurance racing (2013–present)

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Although she desired another season in the Star Mazda Championship before switching to Indy Lights,[12] Freiberg researched the possibility of driving sports cars,[7] and competed for EFFORT Racing in the 2013 GT3 Cup Challenge.[4] At the season-opening round at Sebring, she twice finished in the overall top-five,[20] and took second place outright in the first Laguna Seca race, tying Madison Snow for the championship lead.[17] On June 29, Freiberg became the first woman to win a North American GT3 Cup Challenge race outright in the Platinum Cup class, leading every lap of the Watkins Glen International round. She was also the second female class winner after Melanie Snow at the 2009 Sebring race. The victory allowed Freiberg to break her tie with Madison Snow for the championship, leading by four points.[21] After an accident during a qualifying race at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, EFFORT Racing terminated her contract for unspecified reasons.[22] Frieberg was named a Faces in the Crowd by Sports Illustrated that year.[4]

She began competing on a race-by-race basis in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge in 2014, sharing the No. 48 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3 Grand Sport (GS) car with Shelby Blackstock as she struggled to find sponsorship for a full-time seat.[23] Freiberg and Blackstock won the season-opening BMW Performance 200 after the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) disqualified the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 for a technical infringement. This made her the first woman in series history to win a race overall, and the first outright at Daytona International Speedway.[22] Freiberg participated in four more races until her sponsorship money ran out.[7] She was named a BMW North America Scholarship Driver in 2015[7] and rejoined Fall-Line Motorsports, who partnered her with Trent Hindman in the No. 46 BMW M3 GS car in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.[24] After poor results in the season's first three events, the duo finished second at the rain-affected Watkins Glen round,[25] finishing third overall at Road America,[26] and winning outright at the season-ending Road Atlanta race.[27] Freiberg was eighth in the GS drivers' championship, garnering 226 points.[28]

The No. 96 Turner Motorsports BMW that Freiberg shared with Jens Klingmann and Bret Curtis en route to second in her class at the 2016 12 Hours of Sebring.

Freiberg co-drove Turner Motorsport's No. 96 BMW M3 Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) car in the 2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship North American Endurance Cup, and shared the No. 88 Starworks Motorsport Oreca FLM09 Prototype Challenge (PC) car with Mark Kvamme for the sprint races.[29] She debuted at the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Jens Klingmann, Bret Curtis and Marco Wittmann, finishing 22nd in the GTD class and 48th overall after multiple technical problems.[30][31] During the Daytona race weekend, Freiberg earned support from the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, making her the first North American female driver to receive recognition from the racing governing body.[32] Two months later, she, Klingmann and Curtis finished a season-high second in the GTD class and 23rd overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring.[33] Freiberg and Kvamme finished seventh in the PC class at both Long Beach and Laguna Seca and fifth at Belle Isle.[34] After sitting out the mid-season races, she returned to drive for Turner Motorsports alongside Klingmann and Curtis at the season-ending Petit Le Mans,[35] retiring before the race ended and being classified 10th in class.[36]

After spending months locating sponsors to fund her career,[7] Freiberg signed for DAC Motorsports to drive select races of the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship after she was contacted by the team in May that year.[37] She took two consecutive third-place pro class finishes at the Circuit of the Americas,[7] and was third overall at Watkins Glen.[38] This achievement made Freiberg the first woman to stand on the overall podium in any of Lamborghini's Super Trofeo global series.[38] In the opening round of the 2018 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, the BMW Endurance at Daytona, she and Audi Sport TT Cup driver Gosia Rdest formed the first all-female team in the GS class.[39][40] The duo drove the No. 50 RHC-GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4,[40] finishing 23rd overall after Freiberg's progress into the top five was halted by Austin Cindric, who hit the car early in the race.[41] In December 2018, Freiberg shared a Shift Up Now-entered BMW E30 with Lynn Kehoe, Kristina Esposito, Mandy McGee, and Karen Salvaggio in an all-female team at the 2018 25 Hours of Thunderhill, finishing second in class and 25th overall.[a][44]

She competed in the second endurance race of the 2020 Michelin Pilot Challenge alongside co-driver Ryan Nash in the GS-class M1 Racing McLaren 570S GT4 at Road Atlanta in September 2020.[45] Freiberg retired after completing 88 laps.[46] For the season-ending round at Road Atlanta, Freiberg and Nash drove a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 sourced by M1 Racing from Volt Racing after their McLaren was damaged beyond repair following an accident caused by brake failure.[47] The pair finished the race in 14th position.[48] She was enrolled onto the All-In program that aimed to promote diversity and inclusiveness in auto racing by tire maker Yokohama and she drove the No. 122 MDK Motorsports Porsche 991 GT3 Cup car in the 991 category during the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.[49][50][51] Freiberg won the class title with seven victories and twelve podiums for a points total of 671 over the 14-race season.[51][52]

In the media

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She is the subject of the three-part MAVTV documentary series "In the Machine: Ashley Freiberg" in 2024.[53]

Racing record

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Star Mazda Championship

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(key) (Small number denotes finishing position; † indicates that the driver was ineligible to score points)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
2009 Team GDT SEB VIR MMP NJ1 NJ2 WIS IOW ILL
20 		ILL
18 		QUE ONT ATL LAG N/A N/A† [13]
2010 Team GDT SEB STP LAG IRP IOW NJ1 NJ2 ACC
5 		ACC
19 		TRO ROA MOS ATL N/A N/A† [18]
2012 JDC MotorSports STP
9 		STP
19 		BAR
11 		BAR
11 		IND
15 		IOW
10 		TOR
13 		TOR
13 		EDM
15 		EDM
7 		TRO
12 		TRO
9 		BAL
6 		BAL
10 		LAG
12 		LAG
18 		ATL
11 		11th 162 [54]

IMSA SportsCar Championship

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(key) (Small numbers denotes finishing position; † indicates that the driver was ineligible to score points for not completing enough laps of a race)

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
2016 Turner Motorsport GTD BMW M6 GT3 BMW 4.4 L V8 DAY
22 		SEB
2† 		PET
9† 		62nd 12
Starworks Motorsport PC Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 LBH
5 		LGA
7 		DET
6 		WGL MOS LIM ELK COA 16th 78
Source:[31][34]

24 Hours of Daytona

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24 Hours of Daytona results
Year Class No. Team Car Co-drivers Laps Position Class Pos.
2016 GTD 96 Turner Motorsports BMW 4.4 L Turbo V8 Jens Klingmann
Bret Curtis
Marco Wittmann 		628 22nd 48th
Source:[31][34]

12 Hours of Sebring

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2016 Turner Motorsports Jens Klingmann
Bret Curtis 		BMW 4.4 L Turbo V8 GTD 229 23rd 2nd
Source:[31][34]

Notes

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  1. ^ She was initially due to drive a 2016 Mazda MX-5 with Pippa Mann, Sarah Montgomery, Amy Dilks, and Shea Holbrook.[42][43]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Biography". The Official Ashley Freiberg Racing Website. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "SBRS: Ashley Freiberg news 2010-07-09". Motorsport.com. July 9, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  3. ^ Shapiro, Sean (August 28, 2016). "Nielsen on track to become first woman to win IMSA championship". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Fenwick, Alexandra (June 3, 2013). "Faces in the Crowd". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Goss, Dick (July 25, 2009). "Fast Lane Fine With Freiberg". SouthtownStar. p. B6. Archived from the original on December 26, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c Reimann, Andrew (March 22, 2015). "Race Car Star Trying Cyclocross Interview with Ashley Freiberg–Issue 27 Sneak Peek". Cyclocross Magazine. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Madigan, Cherise (May 29, 2017). "Breaking barriers, seeking sponsors: Local racecar driver Ashley Freiberg". Bennington Banner. Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Stevens, Carrie (February 26, 2013). "Life in the Fast Lane with Racecar Driver Ashley Freiberg". Fitness. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e McNulty, Dean (July 2, 2012). "Freiberg is combo of fire and nice". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  10. ^ Pilcher, K. J. (June 22, 2012). "Freiberg attempting to make name for herself in open-wheel racing". The Gazette. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Ashley Freiberg Biography". Ashley Freiberg Racing. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Barrs, Roy (July 7, 2012). "Ashley Freiberg, other aspiring racers forced to follow money". National Post. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Ashley Freiberg Career Season 2009". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Blatter, Tom (July 28, 2010). "Ashley Freiberg Returns Home To Race in Star Mazda Series at the Autobahn". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Richardson, Tim (August 31, 2012). "Freiberg Proves Auto Racing Isn't Just A Boys' Club". Press Box. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c "Freiberg Joins JDC MotorSports". Speed Sport. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Q&A: Ashley Freiberg on GT3 progress". Racer. June 26, 2013. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Star Mazda Championship – Season 2010: Results". Speedsport Magazine. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "18-Year-Old Racer Ashley Freibeg Nominated For Prestigious Award". The Auto Channel. August 28, 2010. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  20. ^ Ehrhardt, Rainier (February 7, 2014). "TUSC, Daytona – The amazing story of Ashley Freiberg". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  21. ^ "Ashley Freiberg becomes first woman to claim overall GT3 win in North America". Autoweek. June 30, 2013. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  22. ^ a b James, Brant (February 11, 2014). "Ashley Freiberg opens with win". ESPNW. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  23. ^ King, Charlene (May 30, 2014). "Race Car Driver Ashley Freiberg is the Real Deal". BMW Blog. Archived from the original on June 4, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  24. ^ DiZinno, Tony (January 15, 2015). "Fall-Line Confirms Two-Car CTSC Lineup". SportsCar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  25. ^ "Hindman and Freiberg back on the podium at Watkins Glen". Motorsport.com. June 29, 2015. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  26. ^ Cole Smith, Steven (August 8, 2015). "Porsche just misses Continental Tire Challenge sweep at Road America". Autoweek. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  27. ^ Siebens, Nate (October 3, 2015). "Freiberg, Hindman Win CTSCC Finale at Road Atlanta". WDUN. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  28. ^ "ContinentalTire Sports Car Challenge – Driver Standings". International Motor Sports Association. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  29. ^ DiZinno, Tony (January 20, 2016). "Freiberg: "It All Should Be a Good Learning Experience for Me"". SportsCar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  30. ^ "Turner Motorsport Post-Daytona report". International Motor Sports Association. February 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  31. ^ a b c d "Complete Archive of Ashley Freiberg". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  32. ^ Allaway, Phil (February 17, 2016). "Beyond the Cockpit: Ashley Freiberg on Moving Up and a Split Sports Car Schedule". Frontstretch. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  33. ^ DiZinno, Tony (March 20, 2016). "Christina Nielsen, Ashley Freiberg go 1–2 in GTD at Sebrin". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  34. ^ a b c d "Ashley Freiberg – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  35. ^ "IMSA: Turner adds Lawrence, Freiberg for Petit Le Mans". Racer. September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  36. ^ Malsher, David (October 2, 2016). "Shank leads Ligier-Honda 1–2 finish at Petit Le Mans". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  37. ^ Myrehn, Ryan (May 17, 2017). "Freiberg Going "Race by Race" After Strong Lamborghini ST Debut". SportsCar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  38. ^ a b "Riccardo Agostini and Trent Hindman Win From Pole in Second Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Race at Watkins Glen International" (Press release). PR Newswire. July 3, 2017. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  39. ^ Hyatt, Kyle (January 24, 2018). "Audi's female-driven team set to race new R8 LMS GT4 at Daytona". CNET. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  40. ^ a b Dagys, John (January 24, 2018). "First All-Female CTSC Lineup Set for Audi GT4 Debut". SportsCar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  41. ^ Kubiak, Tomasz (January 26, 2018). "Rdest i Freiberg pechowo w Daytonie" [Roest and Freiberg unlucky in Daytona] (in Polish). ŚwiatWyścigów. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  42. ^ "Mann, Freiberg, Holbrook to pilot all-female Thunderhill entry". Racer. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  43. ^ Moody, Allen (November 26, 2018). "Female racers rolling into Thunderhill". Highlands News-Sun. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  44. ^ "Two Top 5 Finishes for Shift Up Now". PippaMann.com. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  45. ^ Dagys, John (September 1, 2020). "Four-Hour Enduro Awaits Competitors at Road Atlanta". SportsCar365. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  46. ^ "VP Racing Stay Frosty 240 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta: IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. September 9, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  47. ^ Kish, Ryan (October 15, 2020). "M1 Racing Sources Volt Porsche After Crash". DailySportsCar. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  48. ^ "IMPC Road Atlanta race classification – victory for #96 BMW Turner Motorsport". AutomobilSport.com. October 16, 2020. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ "Yokohama Tire Announces New Diversity Racing Program". Aftermarket News. March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  50. ^ "Yokohama All-In to promote diversity in racing". Rubber News. April 14, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  51. ^ a b "Ashley Freiberg Seals Porsche Sprint Challenge NA Title". Racers Behind The Helmet. October 9, 2023. Archived from the original on December 26, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  52. ^ "North America – 991 | Sprint Challenge". Porsche Sprint Challenge North America. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  53. ^ "MAVTV focuses on women in motorsports with 'In the Machine' docuseries". Racer. January 5, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  54. ^ "Ashley Freiberg Career Season 2012". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
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