For a seventh year, Sports Car Club of America® members have submitted names of autocross competitors they believe would be worthy Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund (WASF) recipients. Named and established by the family of Wendi Allen, the scholarship honors the multi-time National Solo® Champion who loved the SCCA® Solo community. The fund gives back to the sport by helping young women become more successful drivers and contributing members of the Club. A Selection Committee -- consisting of championship caliber women Solo drivers -- deliberated on the nominations and is pleased to announce the 2020 WASF winners are Samantha Bray, of Detroit Region; Emily Brown, of Colorado Region; and Amy Wunsch, of Northern New Jersey Region.
Each recipient will receive $1,500 to support travel to Tire Rack National Solo events and the Tire Rack Solo National Championship. Additionally, SCCA will waive entry fees for scholarship recipients to all Tire Rack National Solo events attended during the year, as well as work with the Solo community and commercial partners to seek out other forms of support for the recipients, such as driver training, mentoring, products and logistical assistance. Also, 2020 WASF awardees may attend a Tire Rack SCCA Starting Line school of their choice, which provides a full day's worth of performance driving instruction with professional driving coaches.
For a third year, Mazda Motorsports stepped up to supply funding for one scholarship recipient. David Cook, Business Development Manager for Mazda Motorsports, said, “We are proud of and thankful for Samantha, Emily and Amy. During this challenging time in the world, these ladies, as well as many others in our beloved sport, help remind us of how fortunate we are to have a Wendi Allen Scholarship program and a racing community that supports one another. Thank you Samantha, Emily and Amy for all you do for others, and how you do it.”
Two of the three scholarships awarded for 2020 are funded by the SCCA Foundation. Jeff Jacobs, Vice Chairman of the SCCA Foundation, said donations can be made any time through the Foundation webpage (www.sccafoundation.org/donate) with contributions designated to support Wendi Allen scholarships. In addition, the Foundation will be holding future fundraising drives specifically in support of the scholarship fund.
“This is a terrific group of scholarship recipients. The SCCA Foundation is carrying forward this fantastic program originated by the generosity of Wendi and Mark Allen,” Jacobs said. “On a personal note, after co-driving at Solo events with Wendi and Mark for almost a decade, I’m overjoyed we have this chance to continue honoring Wendi's memory and expand the reach of this worthwhile program.”
Photo: Emily Brown (No. 48), Amy Wunsch (No. 178) and Samantha Bray (No. 23) are 2020 Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund recipients
Photo Credits: Rupert Berrington and Perry Aidelbaum
