Earlier this year, we highlighted nine SCCA® racers who received scholarships to aid in their professional racing pursuits in SCCA Pro Racing®-sanctioned series. Amy Ruman, Kaylee Bryson, Jenn Krpata, Rafa Matos, Michele Abbate, Tyler Gonzalez, Justin Garat, Nicole Havrda, and Landan Matriano Lim were presented with Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) Powering Diversity Scholarships to assist in their 2024 racing seasons. With this year’s PMH-led, SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned race series underway, it’s time to check in.
“We’re only a few races into the 2024 season, but it already brings me great pride to see the accomplishments of this year’s PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship class,” said Tony Parella, CEO of PMH. “This program plays such a vital role in helping young drivers by making sure that they’re given a chance to chase their dreams.”
Trans Am’s Contenders
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli has completed four rounds to open the 2024 season with races at Sebring International Raceway, Road Atlanta, NOLA Motorsports Park, and World Wide Technology Speedway. Two-time Trans Am Series TA champion Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette) kicked off the season with a podium – her first podium since April 2022.
In the SGT class, Kaylee Bryson (No. 02 Logical Systems Inc./Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette) leads the Rookie of the Year standings after earning her first-career Trans Am victory in just her fourth series start. She also currently sits second in the SGT point standings. Also running in SGT, Jenn Krpata (No. 93 Island Trees Auto Chevrolet Camaro) made her debut at Road Atlanta, earning a top-five finish with her family-owned team.
In Trans Am’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, Rafa Matos (No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) has gotten off to a record-breaking start launching his season on the podium. At NOLA, the two-time champion earned his first pole of the year and went on to take the checkered flag. The victory was the 21st of his career, making him the winningest driver in TA2 history.
Matos’ teammate Michele Abbate (No. 30 GHOST/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) is having her most successful season to date, earning podium finishes in her first two starts. Abbate is competing part time in the National Championship’s Pro/Am Challenge and in the Western Championship. Her first two race weekends garnered career-best results, with runner-up finishes at both Road Atlanta and Sonoma. Another Nitro Motorsports talent, Tyler Gonzalez (No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) has been a breakout star, scoring two podiums in the season’s three opening races. Following the NOLA round, the 19-year-old led the Rookie of the Year standings and was second in the Young Gun Award standings.
Top 10s in FR Americas
As FR Americas opened its 2024 season at NOLA Motorsports Park in April, all three scholarship recipients brought home top-10 finishes. Justin Garat (No. 17 Speed Factory Ligier JS F3) placed inside the top 10 for all three races, while Nicole Havrda (No. 6 Valley Kitchens Ltd/Colonial Countertops Ltd Ligier JS F3) recorded a weekend-best sixth, and Landan Matriano Lim (No. 73 739Racing Ligier JS F3) scored a weekend-high seventh-place finish during his series debut.
For more information on these SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned series, check out SCCAProRacing.com and SpeedTour.net.
Photo courtesy PMH
