Pair of P2 Podium Finishes for Mann at Nordschleife

Shift Up Now Athlete Pippa Mann and her WS Racing Girls Only teammates earned back-to-back second-place finishes for rounds one and two of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) Championship at the Nurburgring Nordschleife on April 5-7, 2024.

Mann piloted the No. 146 Giti Tire BMW GT4, supported by ZF Motorsport and Motul Germany, alongside teammates Beitske Visser (driving Saturday and Sunday), Carrie Schreiner (Saturday), and Fabienne Wohlwend (Sunday). In addition to the driver lineup, the Girls Only team featured a crew of all-female mechanics and engineers.

Testing took place on Friday afternoon. The team’s goal was to get all four drivers on track during the 4.5-hour session on the 24.36-km NLS track layout. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mann was unable to turn laps, but her teammates worked to dial in the handling of the car, looking for both single-lap pace and full-stint performance.

Saturday morning’s qualifying session was damp and cold. After Visser turned one exploratory lap at the start of the session, the team determined the track conditions were still too wet for slicks, and they decided to wait for ten minutes for the grip to improve. Mann was next in the car, and hit the track for her first laps of the weekend. Despite several areas of the track still being wet, she ran lap times that put the team third in their SP8T class, and just below halfway in the GT4 field. After teammates Schreiner and Visser took the wheel, Visser qualified the Girls Only team third for the start of Saturday’s race on the drying race track. 

Race one, began at noon on Saturday, featuring a 110-car field with 15 GT4 cars and five in the SP8T class. Visser was behind the wheel first for the four-hour endurance race. She drove a strong first stint, however a fueling issue caused the team to pit slightly earlier than planned.

Mann took the wheel next for her first dry laps of the weekend on the famous “Green Hell” track. Because the team was off-sequence from the early pit stop, Mann had to re-pass several slower GT4 cars that had not stopped yet, and continued to advance through the field.

Due to an abundance of incidents, causing “slow zones” around the race track, she wasn’t able to drive a single full-green lap, however her pace looked good in the green sectors. Halfway through her stint, while slowing for a “Code 120 slow zone,” she was hit from behind, causing damage to the rear of the car, but not affecting her pace.

After Mann, Schreiner was next in the car to drive a double stint to finish the race. However the damage to the exhaust from the impact sustained in Mann’s stint caused an over-heating gearbox, and the team had to make an additional pit stop to address the issue.

Once she re-joined the race, despite being several minutes back, Schreiner started the charge to chase down P3. When a lead car suffered a tire puncture, the Girls Only team set their sights on P2. An error from the second placed car - speeding in one of the slow zones while under pressure from the closing Schreiner - promoted Mann’s team to second-in-class, and P9 overall in the GT4 class. Overall, they were happy with the pace but looking to dial in the handling on their Giti tires for a faster pace the following day.

Qualifying for race two took place on Sunday morning. Once again, Visser was first on track for a two-lap run, and set a qualifying time that was second-in-class and seventh overall. Mann took the wheel next and in one flying, sub-nine-minute lap, ran two seconds off the best time in her first full green flag lap of the weekend. Wohlwend was the final driver behind the wheel, but a brake-line issue meant she was unable to set a qualifying time.

Race two began at noon on Sunday. Wohlwend drove a strong first stint for the four-hour competition, moving the team up to P2 in class, and P2 overall in the GT4 field. Several GT4 cars - including the P1 competitor - pitted off-sequence, putting them on a different strategy than the Girls Only team.

Mann took the wheel next and caught the leader halfway through her stint. She stayed in its mirrors and forced an error, turning it into an over-under pass at Hohe Acht. The move temporarily advanced Mann’s team to the lead of the SP8T class, which she held through the duration of her stint.

Visser drove the final stint. After fueling during the team’s last scheduled stop, they were forced to hold in pit lane for 15 seconds to meet the minimum pit stop time for the race. Nevertheless, Visser left pit lane in P1.

Unfortunately, a puncture from morning qualifying left the team without a set of new tires, so Visser was left to compete on battle-worn tires without much grip. With two laps to go, the second-place car passed her, putting the Girls Only car P2 in the SP8T class, and P4 overall in GT4 at the checkered flag.

“This was a strong weekend to build on as we prepare for this year’s twenty-four hour race,” said Mann. “Our girls were fantastic at the pit stops. Having to wait through the fifteen seconds of the last pit stop was agonizing, but having that margin left to meet our minimum pit stop time shows how flawless our mechanics were.

“Our Giti Tire BMW M4 GT4 was fast this weekend. We still have a little pace to find as we continue to dial in the car setup for the tires and the ZF Motorsport damping. But all four drivers ran within five seconds of each other on the nine-minute lap, so we should be a strong team in June when we race for twenty-four hours. Personally, I’m very happy to have had this opportunity to get the seat time ahead of that race.

“I want to thank the team, my teammates, and all our sponsors for having me drive both days this weekend. It will be a big help to come back in June with this many laps already under my belt this season. And as for today, while we might have been on different strategies, getting to make a pass for the lead in class, and then stay there with the fastest GT4 car on track this weekend breathing down my neck for the rest of the stint was definitely my kind of fun!”

Visser, Schreiner and Wohlwend will return to Nordschleife next weekend for the 24h Qualifying Race. Mann will rejoin the Girls Only team for the 2024 ADAC Total Energies 24 Hour Race at the Nurburgring on June 1-2, 2024.

Pippa Mann Returns to Nurburgring in 2024 with Girls Only Team

For the fourth consecutive year, Pippa Mann will compete with the Girls Only WS Racing program in the Giti Tire BMW M4 GT4. She’ll return to Germany for the 52nd running of the ADAC Total Energies 24 Hour race at the Nurburgring from June 1-2, 2024.

Originally opened in 1927, and nicknamed “The Green Hell,” the 150-turn Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit winds its way through the forests and hills in the Eifel region of Germany.   The first 24-hour race was held at “The Ring” in 1970, and it has since become known as one of the most challenging 24-hour races of the season.

Following a podium finish there in 2022, Mann and her teammates set the fast time in their SP8-T class early on in 2023. However, misfortune in the overnight hours led to the team losing a several-lap lead and being taken out of contention for the win. After hours of work, the car did return to finish the race, with the British racer setting a new fastest lap for the team and the class during the final stint to the checkered flag.

Leading up to the main event for the 2024 season, on April 6, Mann will compete at one of three NLS races that comprise the full-season Championship for Girls Only and the WS Racing teams. Mann will again compete alongside Beitske Visser, though their other teammates for NL2, and the 24 hour race have yet to be announced.

Mann is a seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor, and a race winning coach and co-driver with clients in various sports car series across the US. When competing in Germany, Mann’s signature pink helmet will once again feature the blue “S” representing Shift Up Now, an organization Mann took over in 2020. As the CEO, she and her team are focused on the mission of providing more opportunity and funding for talented female racers.

The Girls Only team, founded and led by Nicole Willems within WS Racing, is also on a mission to prove that, with equal opportunity, men and women can perform and compete as equals at the highest levels of motorsport.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Girls Only team by WS Racing for my fourth 24 Hour race at the Ring this June,” said Mann. “This event has quickly become the highlight of my racing season each year, and I can’t thank Nicole Willems, the WS team, Giti Tire, and all their sponsors enough for inviting me back to be part of the program for another year.

“Last year, we had an amazing race car. Our Giti Tires BMW M4 GT4 was on rails, but lady luck was not on our side. This year, our goal is to show up just as fast, and see if we can bring home the win."

Practice and qualifying for the 24-hour race begin on Thursday, June 29, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Victory for Mann, Teammates, "Girls Only" Team at the Nurburgring

Shift Up Now Athlete Pippa Mann, along with teammates Celia Martin and Carrie Schreiner, won in the SP8T GT4 class - and finished 4th overall out of the 14 GT4 cars entered - on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Nurburgring.

The trio, along with their all-female team of mechanics, engineers and crew, brought home the first win of the season in the Giti Tires “Girls Only” BMW M4 GT4. 

The race was the second round of the German NLS series, which takes place on the Nurburgring Nordschleife race track, on a slightly shorter loop than the ADAC Total 24 Hour race. The four-hour endurance race on the 24.4km course featured 132 cars entered across various classes. These included GT3 cars, Porsche Cup cars, touring cars and 14 GT4 cars split across the two GT4 classes that run at the Nurburgring for the NLS events, and the ADAC Total 24 Hour race.

Practice for the event on Friday featured the region's notorious “Eifel Weather,” a mix of fog and rain that gives the Nordschleife it’s nickname, “The Green Hell.”

During those conditions on Friday, Mann, Martin and Schreiner focused on turning as many laps as possible and getting comfortable in the team's new BMW M4 GT4 on the wet racetrack. 

Mann was second in the car, turning three laps on the Giti Tires wet-weather tire. She then returned for another run later in the session as the track started to dry. Mann made it through two third of a lap on the Nordschleife before heavy rain aborted the run.

Qualifying on Saturday morning featured similar conditions as all three drivers took to the track. Martin was the last driver in the car, setting the fast time and qualifying the team in the middle of the GT4 field.

As the noon race start time drew near, the forecasted heavy rain never came and the track continued to dry. Martin was the starting driver, and made the brave, but ultimately correct decision to start the race on “cut slick tires” instead of wet-weather tires. As the green flag dropped, she took the car to P1 in the class. During the first stint of the race, she was P2 overall of the GT4 cars.

Outside of the racing line, the racetrack was greasy and slippery. Several accidents caused various areas of the race track to be under speed-limited conditions. In these areas, drivers were not to exceed specific kph and were not allowed to overtake another vehicle. A mistake in one of these zones cost the team some time when they were forced to serve a 45-second penalty.

Mann was the final driver in the Giti Tires BMW M4 GT4, running the 90 minutes to the end of the race. The entire field stayed on slick tires throughout, despite several small showers on parts of the race track, and occasional sleet. Mann set the second fastest lap of the race for the team, and brought the car home with the first win of the season.

“I’m so thankful to WS Racing and Giti Tire for allowing me to come over for this race as a warm-up for the 24 Hour Race this May,” said Mann. “I also want to thank Bell Techlogix for their support of Shift Up Now, which helps pay for my travel for these events.

“The mixed conditions this weekend threw a lot at me, but I’m so much better prepared for the 24 Hour Race now, having gotten to compete this weekend in NLS2. The new BMW M4 GT4 is by far my favorite GT4 car I’ve ever driven, and I’m pretty pleased with getting below the nine-minute mark on this layout in the race today. I can’t wait to come back and do this again in May.”

Qualifying for this year’s ADAC Total 24 Hour Race will take place on May 18-19, 2023, followed by the race on the 25.3km track layout on May 20-21, 2023.

Pippa Mann returns to Nurburgring in 2023 with WS Racing

For the third consecutive year, Pippa Mann will compete in the Girls Only program with WS Racing on the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit on May 20-21, 2023.

In 2022, the team completed a successful ADAC Total Energies 24 Hour race, culminating in a podium finish. As a result, WS Racing announced an unchanged lineup for the 2023 race on the infamous, 20.8k German track.

Mann is a seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor, and a race winning coach and co- driver with clients in various sports car series across America. In 2023, she will be returning to both the International GT Championship, and to the FARA Racing USA Championship.

WS Racing, founded and led by Nicole Willems, is on also a mission to prove that with equal opportunity, men and women can perform and compete as equals at the highest levels of motorsport.

This will mark the second year that Mann teams up with Carrie Schreiner, Celia Martin and Fabienne Wohlwend. The all-female Girls Only driving lineup will be competing with a brand new BMW M4 GT4, with continued sponsorship from Giti Tire.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to return to the Ring again for the third year running,” said Mann. “I can’t wait to see my team-mates again, and I’m so excited to get behind the wheel of the brand new BMW M4 GT4!”

“I want to thank the team, and all of their partners for welcoming me back for another year. And Bell Techlogix for their support of Shift Up Now, which is once again covering my travel costs to allow me to travel to Germany to compete, and be part of this amazing program.”

"We are very happy that Pippa completes our line up again this season and supports us with her experience and speed," said Nicole Willems. "Our goal is to continue the success of the past years. Pippa fits perfectly to our team and our visions."

Originally opened in 1927, and nicknamed “The Green Hell,” the 70-turn Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit winds its way through the forests and hills in the Eifel region of Germany.

Mann will be joining the WS Racing / Girls Only squad for one of the three warm-up races. She’ll then return to Germany for the 51st edition of the ADAC Total Energies 24 Hour race in May. Practice and qualifying begins on Thursday May 18, 2023.

Podium Finish for Mann at Sebring 24 Hour Race

Seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Pippa Mann was part of the four-driver lineup for ProSport Competition, and helped earn a podium finish for the team in their first-ever, World Racing League 24 Hour race held at Sebring International Raceway on October 31, 2021.

Mann normally competes in the Championship with customers in her own BMW M2 with TLM Racing. When the team decided not to enter their cars in what would prove to be a grueling test of endurance for both drivers and cars, the British driver became available to join ProSport Competition.

With several of her 2019 Indianapolis 500 crew involved in leading the ProSport Competition entry, Mann transferred into a car she normally races against. She joined the driver line-up of Dwayne Moses, Zach Arnold and Jim Cox for the historic event.

Mann turned her first laps in the No. 143 RP Aston Martin Vantage GT4 during Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions. Her lap time from the first session placed the team eighth on the starting grid for the following day’s race.

With Moses at the wheel for the start on Saturday, and Cox driving second, the team picked up places in the opening stints. The team ran as high as third place before a flash fire from a fuel overfill forced Mann to park at a marshal station. Once she ensured the flames were out, a trip back to the garage area confirmed there was no permanent damage to the car. Now several laps down, the team returned to track with a goal of making up ground.

All of the teammates bested their practice and qualifying times during the race, working together to climb the order overall and taking back laps from the leading cars.

At 2:00 a.m., Mann was in the car for a double stint and took the final two laps back from the second-place entry by passing for position before the end of her stint. Arnold then took the wheel and continued the charge, putting two laps of safety between the Aston Martin GT4 and the third place competitor during his double stint.

As the sun rose on Sunday morning, the team was holding down second place with a two-lap lead. Mechanical issues from the brutal pounding of an endurance race at Sebring were starting to take their toll on the car. The last four hours of the race, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, were tense as the team took turns in single stints, nursing their ailing race car home without giving up the podium.

As the checked flag flew on the first-ever 24 Hour race at Sebring, and after 2000 racing miles at one of the bumpiest race tracks in America, ProSport Competition secured second place both in the GT0 class, and overall, in its first-ever World Racing League podium finish.

“It was so much fun to be invited to join this team for the first ever Sebring 24,” said Mann. “Having the opportunity to race such a great car, with team-mates who were so incredibly fast in every single stint of the race, and then coming away with second place overall. It was so great to be here with Race for RP and ProSport Competition for this race.”

Mann resumes her coaching and co-driving duties with client Jody Miller and his Porsche Cup Car for TLM Racing on November 5-7, 2021 at Circuit of the Americas for the penultimate IGT Championship event of the season.