Shea Holbrook

Last updated
Shea Holbrook
Shea Holbrook, 2019 Brands Hatch W Series round 13 (cropped).jpg
Nationality Flag of the United States.svg American
Born (1990-04-10) April 10, 1990 (age 34)
Jacksonville, Florida
Lamborghini Super Trofeo career
Current team Precision Performance Motorsports
Racing licence FIA Silver Driver.png FIA Silver
Car number67
Engine Lamborghini V10
Former teamsShea Racing
Wins8
Podiums27
Poles13
Finished last season5th
Previous series
2010–2017 Pirelli World Challenge
IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing
IMSA

Shea Holbrook (born April 10, 1990) is an American professional racing driver, entrepreneur and spokeswoman. Currently, she is in retirement starting a family.

Contents

Drafting with Denise Mueller-Korenek, Holbrook drove a dragster supporting world record for paced bicycle land speed at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2018. The two traveled an average of 183.932 mph (296.010 km/h). Denise Mueller-Korenek set the world record.

Early life

Holbrook was raised in Groveland, Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in communication with a minor in marketing. [1] [2]

She grew up a nationally ranked competitive water skier. At a young age, she saw much success on the water and also learned how to fly her father's plane however never officially took any lessons or required training or obtain a Private Pilots license. An adrenaline seeker, Holbrook wasn't quite satisfied until she was introduced in motor racing.

Racing

Holbrook began her professional racing career with the Sports Car Club of America in 2010. She became the first woman to win the Grand Prix of Long Beach in a touring car during the 2011 Pirelli World Challenge season, and is one of only four women to ever win at the track. [2] Holbrook says that she became interested in racing after attending Richard Petty’s Driving Experience. [3]

Holbrook received her first taste of international motorsport having qualified for the 2019 W Series, a Formula 3 championship for women. One of two Americans in a European-based series (alongside Sabré Cook), she struggled heavily for pace and often found herself at the back of the field with inexperienced Canadian Megan Gilkes – highlighted by qualifying 8 seconds away from the pole time in the opening round at the Hockenheimring. She finished the championship 18th and as the only driver to have contested all races to not score points, with 12th place in Zolder her best result. [4]

Other

In 2016 Holbrook was the pace vehicle driver when Denise Mueller-Korenek set a women's world record for the fastest speed on a paced bicycle with an official speed of 147.75 mph on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats; no woman had ever attempted the mark before. Mueller-Korenek is the official record holder, with Holbrook only listed in articles a support driver. [5] Holbrook again paired with Mueller-Korenek in 2018 to break the world record for paced cycling, reaching a speed of 183.9 mph (296.0 km/h). [6]

Business

Holbrook is involved in many aspects of the motorsport and automotive industries including, keynote and panel public speaking, television, automotive experiential and marketing programs, professional driver coaching, hospitality and marketing management. Companies she's developed programs and have worked alongside include, Cadillac, Jaguar, Mercedes AMG, Performance Racing Industry, SEMA, Women in Automotive, Sports Car Club of America’s Track Night in America, CBS Sports Network, and the Wall Street Journal among others.

Achievements

Racing record

Holbrook at the 2019 W Series Brands Hatch round 2019 Brands Hatch W Series round 21.jpg
Holbrook at the 2019 W Series Brands Hatch round

Complete W Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam123456DCPoints
2019 Hitech GP HOC
16
ZOL
12
MIS
16
NOR
15
ASS
16
BRH
17
18th0

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References

  1. "UCF grads include pro race-car driver Shea Holbrook". Orlando Sentinel. 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  2. 1 2 "About Shea". Shea Racing. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  3. "Shea Holbrook making a name for herself". MyFOX Orlando. 2011-03-27. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  4. "Shea Holbrook". W Series. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. Fabrizio, Tony (2013-07-16). "Cyclist Denise Mueller sets one speed record, falls short of another". Espn.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  6. Chappell, Bill (September 18, 2018). "Woman Rides Bicycle To 183.9 MPH — A World Record". NPR. Retrieved September 21, 2018.