Abigail “Abby” Froehlich is a 17-year-old SCCA Pro Formula racer from Maryland who owns her own race team, Passenger Princess Racing, and is making waves in American open-wheel racing despite coming from a single-parent household with no racing lineage or deep pockets.

EARLY YEARS

Froehlich didn’t grow up around racetracks. She grew up around horses. Before she ever slid behind the wheel of a race car, she competed at the highest levels in equestrian, a sport that demands precision, fearlessness, and the kind of mental toughness you can’t fake. But at 14, everything changed when she watched Kyle Larson race. Something clicked. The speed, the strategy, the adrenaline—she wanted in.[1]

There was just one problem: she didn’t come from money, and she didn’t have a racing family to bankroll her dream. Most kids who make it in motorsport have generational wealth or a parent who raced. Abby had neither. What she did have was grit, and a willingness to figure it out herself. She started karting in 2023, later than most competitors, and immediately began the uphill climb of funding her own career in one of the most expensive sports on earth.[2]

Abby is also neurodivergent. She’s been open about living with severe ADHD, which she calls her “superpower”—a reframe that’s both practical and powerful. In a sport where focus and split-second decisions can make or break a race, she’s turned what some might see as a disadvantage into a driving force, literally.[3]

OTHER INTERESTS

When she’s not on track, Froehlich is still racing—just virtually. She competes in an iRacing league, honing her racecraft and keeping her skills sharp between real-world events. She’s also still involved in horseback riding, a nod to the discipline that shaped her before motorsport took over. Beyond that, she’s an active member of Youth Racers of America and Shift Up Now, organizations focused on supporting young drivers and promoting diversity in racing.[4]

EARLY SUCCESS

Abby didn’t waste time. After starting karting in 2023, she quickly transitioned into formula cars, moving up to F1600 with K-Hill Motorsports for the 2025 season. It was a bold leap, but she made it stick. Competing in the Formula Race Promotions (FRP) F1600 Championship Series, she finished 27th overall with 85 points—a respectable debut in a fiercely competitive field.[5] She ran a 2015 Mygale FF on Hoosier tires, and while she didn’t land on the podium, she proved she belonged.

But the real story isn’t just where she finished—it’s how she got there. She did it as the owner of her own race team, Passenger Princess Racing, a name that’s equal parts cheeky and empowering. The “passenger princess” label—usually a joke about women who don’t drive—became her rallying cry. She took the wheel, literally, and turned the stereotype inside out.[6]

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2023: Started karting at age 14 after being inspired by Kyle Larson.[7]
• 2025: Competed in full FRP F1600 Championship Series season with K-Hill Motorsports, finishing 27th overall with 85 points.[8]
• 2025: Founded and operated Passenger Princess Racing, her own race team.[9]
• 2025: Joined VChamp electric racing series, forming an all-female race team.[10]

INSPIRATIONS

Kyle Larson was the spark. Watching him race at 14 flipped a switch in Froehlich’s brain, and she’s been chasing speed ever since. But her inspiration goes beyond one driver. She’s motivated by the challenge itself—by proving that you don’t need a trust fund or a famous last name to compete. She’s also driven by representation. As a neurodivergent woman in a male-dominated sport, she’s carving out space not just for herself, but for others who don’t fit the traditional mold.[11]

REPUTATION

Abby Froehlich is known for doing things her way. She’s candid, unapologetic, and isn’t afraid to talk about the things most drivers won’t—like being broke, being neurodivergent, or navigating motorsport as a woman without a built-in support system. That honesty has earned her respect, especially among fans and fellow racers who see themselves in her story. She’s also building a reputation as an advocate for neurodiversity and women in racing, using her platform to push for visibility and change.[12]

Her team name alone—Passenger Princess Racing—signals that she’s not here to play by anyone else’s rules. It’s witty, it’s bold, and it’s working. People remember her, not just because she’s fast, but because she’s real.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Froehlich isn’t slowing down. She’s continuing her campaign in F1600, but she’s also set her sights on F4 testing and a full F4 Series run. The goal is clear: climb the ladder, one rung at a time, all the way to the top.[13]

But perhaps her most ambitious move is joining the VChamp electric racing series, where she’s forming an all-female race team. VChamp is designed to level the playing field for drivers who don’t have the budget for traditional testing-heavy formulas, and Abby is all in. Through Passenger Princess Racing, she’s part of a movement dedicated to promoting diversity, visibility, and empowerment for women and underrepresented groups in motorsport.[14]

The plan isn’t just to race. It’s to change the game.

References:

[1] The Motorsports Girlies – Inspiring Women
[2] Cars Yeah Podcast – Abby Froehlich Interview
[3] VChamp – Welcome Aboard: Abby Froehlich
[4] Formula Race Promotions – Abigail Froehlich to Make Full FRP F1600 Debut
[5] Driver Database – FRP F1600 Championship Series 2025
[6] The Motorsports Girlies – Abigail Froehlich: The Passenger Princess Who Took the Wheel
[7] The Motorsports Girlies – Inspiring Women
[8] Driver Database – FRP F1600 Championship Series 2025 Standings
[9] BabyBoomer.org – Abby Froehlich
[10] VChamp – Welcome Aboard: Abby Froehlich
[11] Cars Yeah Podcast – Abby Froehlich Interview
[12] VChamp – Drivers: Abby Froehlich
[13] Cars Yeah Podcast – Abby Froehlich Interview
[14] The Motorsports Girlies – Abigail Froehlich: The Passenger Princess Who Took the Wheel