STEVAN MCALEER

Monk, JG Wentworth “Optimistic” with Switch to Triarsi Ferrari

2/11/25 (via IMSA.com)

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Now ‘Part of the Furniture’ in IMSA Paddock, Monk Seeks to Build in Third WeatherTech Championship Season

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SEBRING, Fla. – Entering her third IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season but having been part of the IMSA community even longer through various additional series, Sheena Monk reflected that she now is “part of the furniture” of the IMSA paddock.

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With the entrenched presence comes a renewed focus for improvement as she embarks on a switch to Triarsi Competizione, where she shares the striking green, white and black No. 021 JG Wentworth Ferrari 296 GT3 in Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) with full-season co-driver Stevan McAleer and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup third driver Mike Skeen.

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Both McAleer and Skeen have won IMSA championships earlier in their careers. Monk’s most frequently enjoyed success at Road America, where she won her first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class race in 2020 and secured her first WeatherTech Championship podium with McAleer last year, finishing third in GTD in what was the final IMSA podium for the Acura NSX GT3 Evo22.

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The Rolex 24 At Daytona didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts in her new environment, with contact from another GTD competitor and a drive-time infringement costing a potential top-five class finish in the first run for this group with Triarsi and Ferrari.

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But as Monk reflected during Tuesday’s sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway, the switch to Triarsi has her beaming with optimism for the rest of the year.

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“It’s the most professional operation I’ve been part of so far, which is refreshing, and it’s something I can build on,” Monk explained. “Post-Daytona, we’re coming to grips with the car. This is our second time testing at Sebring now, so we’re getting a sense of the car’s capabilities.

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“I’m super optimistic. I’m driving a proper machine at this point. The team has a ton of great personnel under the tent. I have two of the best drivers in GT paddock alongside me. So how do I improve myself to be closer and not be the weak link, especially when we get to the sprint races? I will have to be better in qualifying and I’m going to have stay in the mix in the pack. Ultimately, my job is to keep the car clean and give us something to fight with.”

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Triarsi’s shift to a two-car operation, as the No. 021 car joins the No. 023 under the Orlando-area based team’s tent, has created as many new learning opportunities as it has added to the overall strength of the operation.

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“It’s interesting … I think having two cars brings some new and unique challenges,” Monk said. “I wouldn’t say it’s double the workload for the team, but there’s new situations we’re learning.

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“Say for instance with pit stops, we have two boxes back-to-back. Either someone is going to have to go around pulling in or leaving their box, so you push back sometimes. It’s new challenges. I think everyone is finding their rhythm with things like that.”

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Goals? Monk is keen on adding one more classic 24-hour endurance race to her résumé and achieving strong results in IMSA’s perpetually deep GTD field.

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“Le Mans,” she laughed. “But I have a couple goals in IMSA. Some are lofty. It’s funny to say I’ve been here, where I’ve been part of the furniture, learning every day on track, and it can simultaneously get frustrating. I drive with people who’ve been racing since they were single-digit number of years old … and I haven’t.

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“For me, my goal is to finish in the top three in the championship. That might sound lofty as a Bronze, but if everyone does their job, it’s possible. For this year I’d love to win the (Bob Akin) Bronze Cup and take this Ferrari to Le Mans.”​