Motorcross racer Sara Price tested with Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites team AF Racing at Willow Springs International Motorsports Park last week.
The X Games medallist was in action alongside regular driver Alejo Fernandez and fellow two-wheeled star Jeremy Stenberg at the Californian facility.
Since 2013 Price has raced off-road, but it was a meeting with double-Red Bull GRC champion Tanner Foust at the Mint 400 earlier this month led to her first taste of rallycross.
“It was very random, I was at the Mint 400 Off-Road race the weekend before [the test] and Tanner Foust was racing one of the cars our shop IMG Motorsports had built,” she told The Checkered Flag. “When he got out of the car we were talking about GRC and how it is and Jen Horsey, who was there helping, over-heard and threw it out there if I’d like to get in one and test one out and of course I couldn’t turn that down. Then that Friday I was headed to the track to test.”
Price became the first female driver in Stadium Super Trucks last year – Credit: Stadium Super Trucks
Despite being the first time Price has driven a rallycross car, she reportedly laid down some strong lap times and was pleased with how the day went.
“The test went great it was something totally new for me but I got the hang of it fast and pushed the car while being very comfortable,” the 17-times national motocross title-holder said. “I feel with a little more track time I can be a great up front competitor in the Lites class.”
“They don’t have much bottom end so you have to really be on it and be right there on the rev limiter. The shifting is fast and it sticks very well to the ground with almost no body roll the brakes work great though,” she added. “Whereas with the trucks, there is tons of body roll. Then counting in very fast steering and about double the horsepower, it’s a little bit of a different but similar in ways.”
After the test Price is keen to be on the Red Bull GRC Lites grid this year, but admits funding could prove to be a stumbling block.
“I would love the opportunity to race GRC Lites this year but we are getting down the wire, and I tested last week so not much time,” Price conceded. “It all comes down to funding and if I can find a sponsor who would like representation on this series.”
Meanwhile Stenberg, who like Price began his career on two wheels before switching to truck racing is expected to move into Red Bull GRC Lites this year having already revealed he has quit short course off-road racing. The world freestyle motorcross champion has also had prior seat time in a Lites car over the winter.
Both Price and Stenberg tested with Alejo Fernandez (pictured at the 2016 season finale in Los Angeles) – Credit: Larry Chen/Red Bull GRC
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