After a five year stint in go-karts, Germany’s up-and-coming star began making a name for herself in German Formula 4 in 2015 and 2016, the former as part of Kimi Räikkönen’s Double R Racing, the latter as part of US Racing helmed by former Grand Prix winner, Ralf Schumacher. GT though has been Carrie’s focus since 2017, and it’s not too hard to see why: after finishing runner-up on her maiden Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East campaign in 2017, she went on to win the Pro-Am title one year later before switching focus to ADAC GT Masters and the VLN. In one of the bigger scalps of Carrie’s career thus far, she also finished on the class podium at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2020 with the all-female Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing.
Turns out her season in the Middle East has also given Carrie an enormous enthusiasm for the Dubai Autodrome.
“I’m Carrie Schreiner.”
“I’m 22.”
“I was 16 years old and it was at the Red Bull Ring in 2015 for a German Formula 4 race. Before I’d only done kart races, and suddenly I have a clutch and I’m in a big car, and…yeah, I was super nervous!”
“In 2019, at Hockenheim, I did ADAC GT Masters [aboard a HCB-Rutronik Racing Audi R8 LMS] and we finished on the podium. That was amazing! GT Masters is a super, super strong series, and my teammate [Dennis Marschall] put the car on pole. After his stint, he gave me the car and we were still in P2, so I knew it would be super difficult because we were fighting with other factory drivers. I was super nervous but it was an amazing feeling taking it to them. That was my best moment so far!”
“The Dubai Autodrome and Imola. Both tracks are really fun to drive, especially Imola because there is so much history there, and I’ve had good experiences at both tracks. In Dubai, I like the characteristic of the track a lot, and in 2018, I won the Lamborghini Super Trofeo [Middle East] there too.”
CREVENTIC - "So, does that mean you’ll come and compete in the Hankook 24H DUBAI one day…?"
“…maybe!”
“That was in 2017. I was racing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo in Asia. Someone crashed into me, and after the race, he came to me and he was so sorry that he offered to pay for the damage. That’s never happened before or since!”
“My current helmet is my sponsor, Schaeffler, so I have green on there for their brand. And then for ‘my’ colours, I have pink, yellow and orange. But the most important [part] are the roses. I’ve had those for 12 years now, in car racing and in karting before that too. That’s just my thing.”
“I would say my personality. I don’t have problems with people. I think I’m just very easy to deal with.”
“I’d ask Teresa Palmer. She was the main actor in Ride Like a Girl, and she played Michelle Payne who was the first woman ever to win a race in the Melbourne Cup as a jockey. She’s also as small as me, so she’d be a good fit!”
“Race more! [Laughs]”
“I’m super, super clumsy!”
CREVENTIC - "Even in the car?"
“No, that wouldn’t be so good! [Laughs] Just in real life.”
“Mugello last year was my first race here, but I really like the atmosphere. It’s professional but still very relaxed, almost like a family. I had a lot of fun!”
Carrie Schreiner was speaking with Quinten Kentie and James Gent at the 2020 Hankook 12H MUGELLO. Images courtesy of Petr Frýba. You can also check out this story in the 2021 Hankook 12H HOCKENHEIMRING magazine, available for download at the link below.