ProCoach

This is really fun to watch. The best fifteen minutes you can spend, right now.

Her discipline and focus forward, her setup of the cars she's passing out of Hog Pen, T3, out of the Snake, out of South Bend and out of Oak Tree is beautiful.

All drivers should note how quick her feet are, also how steady her brake pressure is and how far the taper off to EoB happens in the slowest corners, particularly T1.

Also, some creative editing...

Veloce Raptor

She is a helluva driver. Her victory at COTA was solid

ProCoach

Unfortunately, MDK's sponsorship troubles cut her short in that team for the year after that win at COTA. Now, they are completely out.

But, PMNA, other sponsors and a heck of a self-funding effort on OpenFender has put her back in the thick of things with KellyMoss. Big thanks to Andy Kilcoyne and Victoria Thomas for throwing her a lifeline as things came together.

If people want to support a deserving driver, this is one of the best. The current US Carrera Cup points leader was doing guest commentary for the Sprint series at this event and he was effusive that she was "on another level."

https://openfender.com/profile/ashley-freiberg

You know she's a good person to be on track with when some of her competitors have contributed to her effort.

paradocs98

Been following her career for a while now. Hope she can continue to put funding together to support her great talent. Thanks for the link, Peter. I’ll be contributing!

steveP911

I listened to her on the PCA Insider podcast. Impressive person.

Watching that video was amazing, having driven VIR myself several times now. She seemed to consistently win the "who is going to brake last" test. Fearless but incredibly talented. A lesson for DE drivers on how you have to make a "racing line" wherever you can get it.

I'm a fan. Thanks.

ProCoach

Actually, it's not just "who is going to brake last" at all. She's just using more consistently, the capability of the car to slow. The people she's racing against are slowing to WHAT THEY THINK they need to slow. BIG difference.

It's an intentionally choreographed "control" of the other driver, taking away their options under braking and entering the corner.

Plus, NFG once she's past to control any foolishness by the overtaken driver thinking they might do the over under.

Once she's alongside, she releases brake pressure slightly to extend her higher speed deeper into the braking zone and make SURE the car next to her has to look THROUGH her to turn in to the corner. To do that, she is MUCH more committed to 100% throttle LONGER than the people she wants to pass.

She NEVER ONCE blocked anyone, squeezed anyone (even on exit) and only rubbed once, when the guy that wanted to take his half out of the MIDDLE of the back straight wouldn't leave racing room.

It's just business. It's not personal...

quickboxster

Wait, so you can work your way through the whole damn field, twice, without hitting anyone? "shock face" /s

ProCoach

Yep, you sure can.

PCA Club Racing could learn a lot from this driver.

Veloce Raptor

Indeed

jdistefa

Indeed x 992

Mike Roblin

I was thinking exactly this while watching her passes, they were really well executed moves.

I specifically remember you asking me to get to -1.7g at the end of the back straight and realizing once I did it how braking later and harder into the hill actually made it easier to bleed off the brake pressure going to the apex. Watching Ashley’s g-meter regularly spike to 1.8 (occasionally more!) when making those passes was really fun!

Great stuff!!

jdistefa

Obviously her ability to drive into a corner is next level.

But part of what allows her to pass and have pace/momentum advantage is the absolute lack of precision (line, turn shape, car placement, direction) of many of the other drivers.

audipwr1

Solid consistent driving - the pass count is misleading as half that field should be in DEs in miatas learning, but her passes at end of race after fatique of working through endless slow folks I think is pretty special.

ProCoach

It's an "entry level pro" series. Many former PCA Club Racers, some newbies, some SCCA National Champions. Wide range, but only three competitors under 1:50, and she is one of them.

Veloce Raptor

+1