Written by Alejandra Guajardo Lozano, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Women have played an influential role throughout the history of motor racing. Many have taken to the wheels of motorsport machines, while numerous figures have worked tirelessly on the sidelines in various roles, shaping the racing world to the present day. Woman Spotlight Wednesday aims to take a look at the tales of these superwomen, who have surpassed various hurdles to reach where they are today.
Today, we shine the spotlight on the beautiful and talented Toni Breidinger.
Antoinette “Toni” Breidinger is an American driver of Lebanese and German descent. Like many, she discovered a passion for racing thanks to her father, who signed Toni and her sister Annie up for go-kart classes at the age of nine.
Breidinger went from being scared of its complexity, to experiencing her first adrenaline rush and loving it, craving for more.
“It was my first taste of speed and also independence. It was my first time doing something where I didn't have a coach in my ear and my parents weren't telling me what to do. It was just me and the go-kart, and I was steering it myself and doing everything out there on my own. I thought that was super cool. I felt so independent and invincible.” Toni described her experience in an interview with Glamour.
In 2018, Breidinger finally got her time in the sun, when she was called by Venturini Motorsports to run a part-time schedule for them in the ARCA Series. A year later, she announced her desire to take part in the all-female W-Series. Despite being among the top 50 finalists, she was eventually cut from the program.
In 2021, she made her return to ARCA on a part-time schedule for Young's Motorsports beginning at Daytona International Speedway, and in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 82. But she eventually left Young's Motorsports, returning to Venturini Motorsports. The American driver was announced to compete for them in four main ARCA Menards Series races.
Breidinger, apart from being a successful racing driver, is a Victoria’s Secret Model, proving that women can really do it all.
“I did my first campaign with Victoria’s Secret, I think it was like a little over a year ago now. It came out and it was like my dream company to work with," she said on the Females in Motorsport podcast.
Victoria’s Secret has worked closely with Toni and supported her Truck Series debut, with Breidinger showing off the brand’s logo proudly on her car and race suit.
With 19 wins, Toni is the most successful female professional race car driver in the United States Auto Club. A talented and beautiful woman who shares her passion for motorsport with others. Truly a superwoman worthy of the spotlight.
