Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg pursue success in SRO America’s GT4 America series co-driving the No. 24 Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. (Photo: Hannah Spagnoletti | The Podium Finish)
DEL VALLE, Texas — The blistering Texas sun beat down on the pavement of Circuit of the Americas, but the real heat was radiating from the Kellymoss racing paddock. In a sport often defined by its rigid traditions and solitary pursuits, Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg are rewriting the script. They are not just teammates; they are a unified front and a pair of friends proving that the fastest way to the top is together.
This partnership represents more than just a collaboration between two drivers; it is a tactical alliance designed to conquer one of the most competitive GT4 fields in the world behind the wheel of their No. 24 Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
For those who have followed the trajectory of motorsports over the past two decades, the name Unser carries a weight that can be both a blessing and a burden. Yet, Loni Unser wears it with a grace that suggests she is far more interested in building her own legacy than resting on the laurels of the legends who came before her.
Transitioning from the raw, survivalist nature of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to the endurance based chess match of the SRO GT4 series is no small feat. It requires a mental recalibration that few drivers ever truly master.
“I love that question because it is so different, but at the end of the day, it’s all driving and it’s all just executing,” Unser said. “Whether it’s executing for nine minutes, like a Pikes Peak run, or for three hours, although we’ll be switching off in that three hour time span, it’s just about getting in the car, staying focused, and executing. At the end of the day, it’s really quite similar.”
However, Unser was quick to point out that the environment at COTA offers a different kind of pressure than the mountain. In the SRO field, she is surrounded by stiff competition, requiring her to maximize every pass and anticipate the movements of dozens of other drivers simultaneously.
The chaos of a multi class field requires a level of peripheral awareness that is entirely different from the solitary focus required on a hill climb. The No. 24 Kellymoss Porsche must be positioned perfectly to navigate the technical sections of the Austin circuit.
The Podium Finish Editor-in-Chief Rob Tiongson speaks with Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg prior to Saturday’s Lone Star Enduro at COTA. (Photo: Hannah Spagnoletti | The Podium Finish)
“The only thing that’s different here is we’ve got some stiff competition with SRO,” Unser noted. “We’ve got a big field this year and a lot of really, really good drivers. So, learning how to, and really working on, racecraft is something that is very different. You have to really maximize the time around other drivers, maximize the passes you make, and think about what everybody else is doing, whereas in Pikes Peak, you just have to think about yourself.”
Sitting alongside her is Freiberg, a driver whose resume is as diverse as it is impressive. Freiberg brings a wealth of endurance experience to the table, and she serves as the perfect analytical foil to the high stakes intensity of the sport. The synergy between the two is palpable, a byproduct of a long standing friendship that predates their current professional alignment. In a world where teammates are often forced together by sponsors or logistics, this pairing was born of genuine mutual respect.
Freiberg emphasized the importance of their shared driving style. Because they like the same things in a car setup, they can skip the typical growing pains associated with new driver pairings. They have found a middle ground that allows both to be comfortable and aggressive in the No. 24 machine.
“I feel like what’s really cool about us is we have a very similar driving style,” Freiberg explained. “We like the same things. I mean, everything down to the driver changes and working with the engineer and our driver coach, we both have to be a team effort in all of those things. I feel like it’s been super seamless. We’ve been working together for a long time and we’ve been friends for a long time, so it’s actually such a fun pairing.”
The concept of accountability is often lost in high pressure environments, but the Kellymoss duo has embraced it. Because they are close friends, they are not afraid to be blunt about what is working and what is not. Unser pointed out that their friendship allows them to be brutally honest with one another. If something works, they celebrate it; if it does not, they diagnose the issue without fear of causing offense. This transparency is a competitive advantage in a series where every tenth of a second is scrutinized.
No. 24 Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, co-driven by Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg, The navigates the technical turns at COTA. (Photo: John Arndt | The Podium Finish)
“The better communication you can have with your co-driver and your team, the better everybody’s going to be because you’re on the same page,” Unser said. “Also, Ashley and I aren’t afraid to say, ‘Hey, this worked, this didn’t, how do we need to change?’ We’re not afraid to have that open communication. Racing happens really fast and things can get missed, so being able to just be open and honest is super helpful for each other, and it makes us all better.”
Freiberg agreed, noting that the intensity of a championship hunt requires a specific kind of maturity.
“When you’re in this environment, it can be very intense and it can be easy to get caught up in the results of everything,” she said. “Having that growth mindset and being able to go up to each other and say, ‘Hey, we need to be better here,’ but then also have a laugh a moment later is so important. So, it’s a good balance here.”
However, their impact extends far beyond the timing sheets. Throughout the paddock, their No. 24 Kellymoss Porsche GT4 RS Clubsport stands out, adorned with the “Be Your Own Hero” livery. It is a visual manifesto, a call to action for the next generation of racers. For Freiberg, the mission is personal. She recalled a time when she did not even realize women could race. It took seeing others on the track to flip that switch in her mind.
“I know I had a lot of inspiration growing up when I was young,” Freiberg shared. “I didn’t even know women raced when I was little. So, it took me seeing other girls out on track to have the light bulb go on, like, ‘I could do this.’ That was very moving for me. And then I saw Danica Patrick leading the Indy 500 when I was racing go-karts, and then that lit up the light bulb even more for me.”
Unser echoed this sentiment, noting that the pathway to success is rarely linear. The “Be Your Own Hero” message on the side of their No. 24 Porsche is about taking accountability for both successes and failures. They want to be the figures they looked up to when they were younger, making the presence of women in the paddock a norm rather than an exception.
The “Be Your Own Hero” livery, featuring superhero versions of Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg, on the No. 24 Porsche serves as an inspiration for the next generation of racers. (Photo: John Arndt | The Podium Finish)
“The idea behind it is there’s two superhero versions of ourselves on the race car,” Unser said. “The hope is that we get young kids, and especially young girls, to look at our car, come up to it, be curious about it, and then that gives us an opportunity to tell them that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to. And then also, on the more serious side of things, to take accountability for their successes but also their failures as well. Racing is not easy, and anything big that you want to achieve, it’s not going to be a linear pathway to success.”
The physical demands of their profession often go overlooked by those outside the industry. Despite the occasional dismissal of race car drivers as non athletes, the reality inside the cockpit is grueling. Cockpit temperatures can soar to 160 degrees, and heart rates frequently hover around 170 beats per minute during a stint. For Unser and Freiberg, fitness is not a hobby; it is a prerequisite for survival.
“I would say race car drivers are absolutely athletes,” Freiberg asserted. “Loni and I both train a lot. We train six, seven days a week, whether it’s weight training, cardio… we’re both training for a half marathon. On these weekends, it’s hot. You have to stay hydrated, stay well fed. We’re going to drive a three hour race later, so that’s like running a three hour running race. You have to be pretty fit for it.”
Unser added that the mental focus required while under extreme heat is the true test of an athlete.
“My heart rate will get up to 170 in the race car,” she explained. “And then also the heat is extreme. It can get up to 160 degrees in the cockpit of the car. So you have to be fit to be able to deal with that heat and keep oxygen going to your brain, because keeping your mental focus is more important than anything in the car.”
Their approach to mental health is equally disciplined. In a world of constant demand from sponsors, media, and fans, protecting their peace is essential. For Unser, the opportunity to race is a dream she never takes for granted. Despite her family history, her path into the driver’s seat was not guaranteed.
“When I was little, although I come from a family of race car drivers, I never really got the opportunity to go racing until I was a little bit older,” Unser admitted. “It was always something I just wanted to be in the paddock, I wanted to work in racing. Of course, I wanted to be a driver, but I kind of thought that was a pie in the sky sort of unattainable thing. So, when I really started to be able to race, I can’t think of it that way. I’m so grateful.”
Freiberg shared that her love for the sport makes even the hardest days at the track better than a good day anywhere else.
Ashley Freiberg brings a wealth of endurance experience and a focus on team synergy to the Kellymoss paddock. (Photo: John Arndt | The Podium Finish)
“I’ve had quite a few of hard days at the track, but you know what? You just put your head down and you try to find another opportunity,” Freiberg said. “I’m always so grateful for everyone that I meet in this paddock. I just love what I do. I mean, yeah, even in the harder times, you just keep pushing through because you just love it so much.”
That mindset counts during successful weekends and the ones where the results may not show. Even when a late race tangle derailed an otherwise promising effort in Saturday’s Lone Star Enduro, Freiberg and Unser kept their heads up high knowing a tough outcome at COTA beats a great day in an office job.
As the SRO season progresses, the eyes of the motorsports world will be on this Kellymoss duo. They represent a shift in the culture of the sport, one that values inclusivity and accessibility as much as speed. The SRO series, with its open paddocks and fancentric atmosphere, provides the perfect stage for their mission. It allows fans to see that these drivers are not untouchable celebrities, but dedicated professionals who are willing to share their journey.
“Without the fans, this sport isn’t really anything,” Freiberg said. “To me, this sport is a community sport. So to have the fans be a lot more a part of the whole event is really important. I love having the fans be able to come to our trailer and actually see our No. 24 race car and, like Loni said, sit in the car and have it be way more of an immersive experience.”
Unser concurred, emphasizing that the sensory experience of racing is something that must be felt in person.
Loni Unser is focused on carving out her own legacy in the SRO GT4 America series while carrying one of racing’s most legendary names. (Photo: John Arndt | The Podium Finish)
“It is such a great place to watch and really feel and hear and smell everything that’s going on here,” she said. “That’s what makes racing unique. All of those things together are not something you experience in your everyday life. So I just want more and more people to come out and enjoy something that we all love so much.”
Loni Unser and Ashley Freiberg are a formidable force proving that when you combine elite talent with a deep rooted friendship and a shared vision, the results speak for themselves. As they continue to push the limits at tracks like COTA, they are doing more than just chasing trophies.
They are clearing the path for everyone who follows, one lap at a time. The Kellymoss team has found a winning formula in these two drivers, not just for the points standings, but for the future of the sport itself. Their legacy will be measured not just in podiums, but in the barriers they helped to dissolve.
