Porsche Motorsport has confirmed that the Iron Dames will return to the marque within the begin of a brand new multi-year partnership with the all-female squad. It marks the start of a brand new initiative to advertise girls in motorsport.
The partnership consists of the promotion of long-time Iron Dame driver Michelle Gatting to Porsche contracted driver. The Danish racer will likely be joined by Switzerland’s Rahel Frey, Sarah Bovy from Belgium, and French driver Célia Martin. The 4 drivers will compete throughout the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Michelin Endurance Cup (GT Daytona), FIA World Endurance Championship (LMGT3), European Le Mans Collection (LMGT3) and Asian Le Mans Collection (GT). The latter sequence will get it begin subsequent weekend at Sepang.
Iron Dames will associate with Workforce Manthey for WEC the place Gatting, Bovy and Martin will make up the core squad, and Proton Competitors within the different sequence. Gatting, Bovy and Frey would be the core driver lineup for the Michelin Endurance Cup.
“Porsche stands for a tradition of equal alternatives and variety. Encouraging girls to become involved in motorsport after which supporting them in open competitors is one thing we worth extremely,” mentioned Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport.
“On this context, we’ve seen that the Iron Dames venture is well-structured and was very profitable lately Since our buyer groups have already celebrated victories with the Iron Dames, we’re now taking the subsequent logical step. We’re very assured that the collaboration in all sequence will reap glorious outcomes and we are able to spotlight our contribution to supporting feminine racing drivers with victories and podium finishes.”
Launched in 2018 by Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames has been competing in worldwide endurance racing, and is the primary all-female group to win a race within the FIA World Endurance Championship. Bovy, Frey and Gatting captured the ultimate GTE-Am victory within the 2023 season-ender in Bahrain (essential picture). That victory got here in a Porsche 911 RSR 19.
“It’s an honor to affix forces with such a famend model as Porsche Motorsport, who share the identical objective of leaving an enduring legacy in motorsport whereas driving ahead progress,” mentioned Mayer. “The Iron Dames Challenge has all the time been rooted within the energy of goals to beat obstacles. Our journey is not only about competing on the highest degree, but in addition about proving that the door to the racing world is open to everybody with ardour and willpower.
“From 2025, we intention to set new benchmarks collectively, to empower girls in endurance racing, help upcoming feminine drivers, change perceptions and encourage the subsequent technology. ‘Porsche X Iron Dames’ supplies greater than a contemporary impetus for ladies in motorsport, it sends a robust message that each dream is price pursuing, regardless of how bold. I sit up for seeing Célia, Michelle, Rahel and Sarah racing Porsche vehicles everywhere in the world once more and to seeing the ‘Each Dream Issues’ motion flourish with them.”
The alliance between Porsche Motorsport and Iron Dames is ready to proceed for a number of years. Plans are already within the pipeline for the venture to be carefully linked to the German sports activities automotive producer’s profitable junior growth pyramid. The intention is to hyperlink the nationwide help packages within the Porsche one-make cups, the central Junior Program of Porsche Motorsport and the lately launched “Iron Dames Younger Skills” initiative. The intention is to create a path for younger expertise from karting to top-tier racing.
