By Jem Hepworth
Going into Road America, I felt good, but nothing could have prepared me for the rush when we crossed the line first in race two to record my and Lindsay Brewer’s first win for the RAFA Racing Team.
Saturday’s second place was solid, but that win… that was different. We started fourth in class, and every lap was a battle. We fought hard, took every opportunity, and pushed until the very last corner.
The moment the checkered flag waved, it hit me — we’d done it. Lindsay and I stood on that top step with the crowd below us, knowing we’d earned it the hard way. It was the kind of win that leaves you breathless, because you know how much it took to get there.
What I didn’t realize in that moment was just how big the history we’d made might be. As far as IMSA knows, this was the first all-female win in an IMSA race or category since the modern era began in 1999.
Some even believe it could be the first time in IMSA history that an all-female team has taken victory. I knew what we’d done in Lamborghini Super Trofeo was already huge, but this? This was on another level.
For me, it’s not just about a result sheet — it’s about proving that we can compete, we can win, and we belong here. It’s about showing young girls watching from the stands or online that they can do it too. In my first year racing in the U.S., to have a moment like this is something I’ll never forget.
When I first climbed into the Lamborghini at our pre-season Sebring test, I remember thinking, wow. The car was a step up from anything I’d driven before — blisteringly fast in a straight line, with the kind of downforce that makes you trust it in the corners, but right on the edge at the limit.
Finding those final tenths means dancing on that knife edge, predicting exactly how it’s going to react. That challenge hooked me immediately.
I’ve been lucky to have incredible support from Kevin Conway and Corey Lewis, who know this car inside and out. They’ve shared everything they’ve learned over years of racing Lamborghinis, and they’ve been brutally honest when we needed to improve, just as quick as they are to acknowledge when we’ve done something right.
That mix of pressure and encouragement has pushed both me and Lindsay forward all season. This Lamborghini feels like the perfect step for my career — and for Lindsay’s — toward the ultimate goal of racing in GT3.
Working with Lindsay this year has been a great match. We have different personalities — I’m the calmer, more methodical one, while she brings this high-energy edge — but that balance works.
We bounce off each other in the best way. I can share my endurance and GT racing experience to help her adapt, and she brings her own strengths that push me too. At the start of the season, we didn’t even know if we’d be paired.
Racing in the U.S. has been eye-opening. I’d always been told that European racing was the most competitive, and it is, but IMSA has shown me a different kind of competition — one that’s just as intense but cleaner.
In European GT4, unless you qualified in the top 10, you were at real risk of being caught in chaotic incidents. Here, the racing is still door-to-door, but there’s more respect. The battles are about skill, not survival. For me, that makes every lap more enjoyable and more rewarding.
Off the track, living and racing in the U.S. has its own learning curve. The food is amazing — maybe a little too amazing if you’re trying to keep it healthy during a race weekend. Mexican restaurants, diners, and incredible local spots are everywhere, and sometimes it’s hard to say no.
Driving on the opposite side of the road was strange at first, but now I switch between left and right without thinking. The UK will always be home, but America has started to feel like home too.
I can’t overstate how grateful I am to be part of the RAFA Racing Team. From my first season with Rafa himself in McLaren Trophy in 2023, to racing European GT4 in 2024, and now this year’s Lamborghini program with Lindsay, they’ve given me every tool I’ve needed to perform.
More than that, they’ve surrounded me with the right people — people who believe in me, push me, and make sure I’m ready to perform at my best. They’ve taught me that talent is important, but so is discipline, preparation, and having the right team behind you. This win is as much theirs as it is mine, and I hope they’re as proud of me as I am to represent them.
We’re now tied for second in the championship standings with two rounds and four races to go. The leaders have a few more wins under their belt, which means we’ll need to be nearly perfect from here.
To have a real shot, we’ll probably need to win at least three of those races or, at the very least, stay on the podium every time and hope the points swing our way. Consistency will be key.
Next up is Indianapolis, a track that’s as historic as it is challenging. After that, we’ll head to Misano in Italy for the season finale. That one’s a bit of a homecoming for me — I raced there last year, so I know the circuit and what it takes to be quick.
The logistics for the team are massive: after Indy, the cars will head back to be stripped, prepped, and shipped overseas immediately. It’s a huge commitment and an enormous amount of work for everyone, but knowing the team we have, they’ll be ready.
If it all comes down to that last race in Misano to decide the championship, I can’t think of a better stage for the fight. This year, we’ve already made history. Now, the goal is simple: finish the job, take the title, and prove once again what’s possible.
