Shift Up Now athlete, driver coach and seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Pippa Mann tried her hand in something new this past weekend, making her debut with Malcolm Ross Motorsports (MRM) in “The Mitty” historic sports car weekend at Road Atlanta on April 24-27, 2025.
The Classic Motorsports “Mitty,” one of the largest classic automobile races in the United State, is an annual event that has been taking place at Road Atlanta since 1977.
Along with co-driver and team owner Malcolm Ross, Mann piloted the 2020 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi, with the duo using it as a warmup and test session for the upcoming Classic IMSA Historic races. For MRM, it only the second time running the Cadillac, the first being at The Classic 24 in 2023.
Mann’s first foray behind the wheel took place during the test session on Thursday morning. Completing nine laps around the 2.54-mile, 12-turn racetrack, she noted that it was her first time driving anything that fast on a road/street course since 2008, and her first time since then in a serious aero car since then as well. Not missing a beat, Mann identified key information to coach Ross and get their car up to speed.
During the two practice practice sessions, qualifying and the first 30-minute sprint race of the weekend, Ross continued to improve his pace.
The 90-minute enduro race took place on Saturday from 5:25-6:55pm EST. The competition required two mandatory pit stops and, given the height difference between Mann and Ross, a full seat-insert switch was necessary. The team’s goal was to separate the two pit stops into fuel and driver change, to provide more time at each.
Ross started the enduro race in third and quickly advanced into second early in the race. However, when an early full-course yellow foiled the team’s pit stop strategy, they elected to do the first mandatory stop under yellow. The MRM team was able to get a partial jug of fuel in to top off the car, allowing them to save valuable time at the next stop.
A lengthy green-flag run would follow and Ross had a strong restart. He began to close the gap to the leaders, decreasing it to less than five seconds before returning to pit lane for the second pit stop.
Mann took the wheel during the smooth stop, then went back out on the same set of tires. Despite her competitors having an advantage with brand-new Michelin slick tires, she set the fastest lap of the race and the weekend for the MRM team, and maintained her second-place position.
With 15 minutes remaining in the race, another full-course yellow emerged. Mann got trapped behind five lapped cars and by the time she cleared them, the leader was too far ahead.
When the checkered flag flew, Mann and Ross couldn’t help but be satisfied with their second- place, podium finish during their debut at “The Mitty.”
“I’m so thankful to be here with Malcolm, and his team, with this incredible race car,” said Mann. “It’s by far the fastest thing I’ve ever driven on a road or street course, and I definitely have a learning curve ahead of me to get really fast in this thing. However, this was a great first event for Malcolm and I as a team, and it was great preparation for the upcoming IMSA Classic races where we plan to share the car too.”
"Firstly, what a car!" said Ross. "I had struggled to understand how to take advantage of this car back in '23 when I last drove at Daytona, but Pippa quickly realized where I was lacking in my knowledge base, which helped me up my game vastly throughout the weekend. I now have the tools to continue to develop my abilities in our Wayne Taylor Racing 2020 Cadillac DPi, and I'm rally excited to work with her, and continue to share the car with her at the Historic Sports Car Classic at the Glen!"
Next up, the Malcolm Ross Motorsports team will head to New York for the Classic 6 Hours at Watkins Glen, taking place on June 11-14, 2025.