This farm-raised engineer who steered Cadillac to four Rolex 24 wins now adds Corvette Racing to her impressive portfolio.

Laura Wontrop Klauser already had one of the coolest jobs in racing before it got even cooler. Just before the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, she moved into GM’s newly created sports car racing program manager position.

Essentially, Klauser expanded her prior role as racing program manager by adding Corvette Racing to a roster that already included the highly successful Cadillac DPi-V.R racing program and Camaro GT4.R program. Cadillac won the Rolex 24 from 2017 through 2020, and both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championships in 2017 and 2018. (Cadillac finished a close second to Acura in this year’s Rolex 24.)

It’s also worth noting that Klauser reports to Mark Stielow, director of motorsports competition engineering, known by many for his hobby of building a dozen or so knockout Pro Touring classic Camaros.

Growing up, Klauser helped her parents take care of a small farm in Maryland. Her father, an electrician, encouraged her to pursue engineering. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, where she worked on the school’s Formula SAE race team.

After joining GM in 2008, she earned a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and would go on to work on the C7 Corvette program.

PRI recently caught up with Klauser to learn more about her exciting new venture.

PRI: Describe how your duties have changed in this new role.

Klauser: The biggest immediate change is the addition of the Corvette Racing program. Thankfully, we have strong partners and teams for all these programs. Depending on them to keep responsibility for being successful allows me to balance the programs. I am also working closely with Mark Stielow to establish our plan for sports car racing in the future.

PRI: What does this newly created position reveal about GM’s future motorsports plans?

Klauser: We’re working to integrate our motorsports activities more closely with the production engineering side of the house. Technology transfer is key with racing, and we want to make sure we’re taking advantage of every opportunity there. We also want to increase shared learnings across the motorsports programs. That’s why the sports car program manager role was created.

PRI: How does your engineering background make this new position a good fit for you?

Klauser: Being able to “speak engineer” is very important. I am not designing the parts in CAD or running the FEA myself, but I am reviewing the output of these activities and approving it. I am also handling team requests to make changes or address durability concerns on the car. Being able to quickly understand the problem and create the plan to solve it is critical.

PRI: What strengths do you bring to this new role?

Klauser: Fostering relationships is key. I’ve spent the past four years getting to know the IMSA paddock as well as other racing partners with GM. Being able to identify the right people and get them to work well together will bring success both in on-track results and staying on budget.

PRI: What do you see as the biggest challenges ahead?

Klauser: Balancing staying successful today with ensuring success tomorrow. I love the racing we have today, but it’s pretty clear the automotive industry is going through a big shift. We’re going to have to be ready to make some changes to our beloved sport to stay relevant.

PRI: Please share your top strategic goals for the next 12 months.

Klauser: Making sure all three programs—Corvette, Cadillac, and Camaro—are successful. Corvette kicked the year off with a win at the Rolex 24, and Cadillac was fighting for the win down to the last lap. I want to see that great momentum carry forward. Also, finalizing our Sports Car Racing Future Strategy and starting development of those programs.

PRI:  What changes will race teams notice—or what do you hope they notice—as a result of your efforts?

Klauser: I hope they are already seeing more opportunities for cross-program collaboration. This was the reason for bringing all the sports car racing programs under one program manager.

PRI: What’s your most gratifying professional accomplishment?

Klauser: Being chosen for this new position. It feels like the reward for all the hard work that went into refining the Cadillac DPi-V.R program and finding success in IMSA with that car.

PRI: How do you inspire or help young women who want to get involved in engineering and/or motorsports?

Klauser: I think being seen in this role is critical. I try to give time whenever I can to talk to groups of young women interested in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] education and/or motorsports. Giving them access to ask questions is so important.

PRI: How can this industry attract more young people into motorsports and engineering careers?

Klauser: By exposure. It’s so important for students to do STEM projects as young as possible so they experience what it’s like to be an engineer. We need to get them interested in order for that curiosity to grow. For example, before COVID—and I hope after—the Roar Before The 24 at Daytona each year hosts Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts camping in the infield. They spend the day meeting various people on the race teams and learning about how STEM education applies to racing.

PRI:  Who inspires you, and why?

Klauser: Mark Stielow. He’s a living legend at GM, from all the cool assignments he’s had for the company as well as the amazing projects he does personally. Before moving to racing, I was working at the Milford Proving Grounds facility as an NVH engineer, and it was my goal to figure out how to work for or with Mark.

Laura Wontrop Klauser

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Title:
Sports Car Racing Program Manager

Organization:
General Motors 

Hometown:
Detroit, Michigan

Fast Fact:
Klauser lists hobbies as performance driving in a Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo and C6 Grand Sport Corvette at the VIR, Sebring, Mid-Ohio, and Summit Point road courses. She also enjoys bicycling and making “confectionery creations,” and has a personal website called “Cars and Chocolates.”