MELANIE SNOW and ANDREA ROBERTSON > DOUBLE-DOSE OF GIRL POWER AT ROAD AMERICA

A DOUBLE-DOSE OF GIRL POWER AT ROAD AMERICA
Snow, Robertson partnering again in the ALMS' GT class

Andrea Robertson and Melanie Snow had so much fun driving together for the first time in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón that they’re making it two in a row. Robertson Racing has again paired the ladies together for the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase this weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.


Robertson and Snow will drive Robertson Racing’s No. 40 Doran-Ford GT in Saturday’s four-hour enduro around the famed 4-mile venue. They teamed two weeks ago at Mid-Ohio in a race cut short by rain late in the event. The fact that they are driving in the Series’ deepest and most competitive class makes the task that much more daunting.

“I really don’t have anything to prove to the men,” says Snow, the 2009 ALMS Challenge co-champion and four-time ALMS race-winner. When you’re on the track, everyone is the same. No one goes by you and says, ‘Oh, that’s a female in the car.’ But it’s always in the back of your head. You want to do a good job and show them that you can do it just as good as they do.”

“We go back a ways,” added Robertson, who became the first woman since 1931 to finish on the class podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. “It was refreshing to find someone who is as passionate about it as I am. I don’t know that we want to say that we’ll be better than the boys because there are a lot of great drivers out there. But we do want to show them that girls can have fun, too.”

Snow and Robertson are set for an appearance Tuesday on "The Morning Blend", Milwaukee's TMJ4 morning show between 9 and 10 a.m. CT.

This weekend’s Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 20 with ABC airing the race at 4:30 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) on Sunday, August 21. Live video coverage on race day will be available at 3:45 p.m. ET on ESPN3.com in the US, and americanlemans.com for international viewers. Canadian fans may also watch live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet, as can European audiences on MotorsTV. Worldwide radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com. For more information on the broadcasts, go to americanlemans.com/tv.

Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations. You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes), on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

MELANIE SNOW and ANDREA ROBERTSON - TRACK CHIC's WOMEN behind the WHEELS -FORM ALMS' FIRST ALL- FEMALE PAIRING in 10 YEARS

ROBERTSON RACING will field the first all-female driver pairing in ten years of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron history at the upcoming Mid-Ohio Sportscar Challenge on August 5/6.

Regular driver and team co-owner Andrea Robertson will be joined by highly experienced GT driver Melanie Snow in the #40 Ford GT. Andrea’s husband and fellow co-owner/driver David Robertson has taken the decision to stand down for the two-hour 45-minute enduro. 

Melanie Snow
Track Chic Woman behind the Wheels
September, 2009

Snow, who currently lies fifth in the IMSA GT3 Challenge by Yokohama Platinum Cup standings, having won the 2009 Gold edition, will make her first ALMS start since clinching the GT Challenge class title in 2009. It’s been 12 years since her first and only main GT class appearance when she won on debut at Sebring.

A day’s testing at Mid-Ohio the Tuesday before the race weekend will offer Snow her first chance to sample the Ford GT. At this stage the deal only includes the Lexington round, although further outings could be added.

Andrea Robertson
Track Chic Woman behind the Wheels
June 2011

 
Melanie Snow: “Andrea and I have been friends for a while and always joked about forming an all-girl team. It was something I never really expected though so when I got an email out of the blue it was a shock, but also a nice surprise. Obviously a lot has changed since I last raced in what was the original GT class, but the Challenge cars aren’t too far way in terms of performance so hopefully it won’t be much of a step up. Having said that I’m expecting the Ford to handle completely different to the Porsche I usually race. I’m sure I’ll get to grips with it during the test so we can hit the ground running in Free Practice. At the moment the deal is just for Mid-Ohio but we’ll play it by ear and see what happens for the rest of the season.”

Andrew ‘H’ Smith, Team Manager: “It’s great to have Melanie onboard for Mid-Ohio. She has a lot of experience in GT cars so I’m confident it won’t be long before she’s up to speed in the Ford. Andrea had expressed an interest in her joining the team and I think it’s a great opportunity for them to show how well they stack up against their male counterparts. We’ve had lots of women racers take part in the ALMS over the past 12 years so it’s about time an all-female crew was given their chance. We’re not ruling out running Melanie again later in the season but at the moment Mid-Ohio is the only round scheduled.”

Keep an eye on Robertson Racing’s facebook page, as well as www.RobertsonRace.com, for all the latest news and images.