An all-female racing crew part of the auto racing team Iron Lynx, the Iron Dames is a unique project created and led by racer and current President of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission Deborah Mayer, aiming to inspire the next generation of women in motorsport. Comprising of four team members - Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, Sarah Bovy, and Doriane Pin - the team competes in a variety of endurance racing competitions, such as the European Le Mans Series LMGTE, and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Recently making history as the first-ever all-female team to claim victory in the World Endurance Championship at the season finale in Bahrain, the Iron Dames are continuing to make history in racing. Deborah Mayer expressed how special of a moment it was to take the victory, the female racers competing in a 911 RSR-19 and claiming their win just a mere 5.5 seconds over the Aston Martin Vantage, becoming the first all-female team to win a WEC in their respective class.
“It’s hard to put into words so much joy and emotion. This first victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship is a very special moment for me because it gives full vindication to the project itself and the passion, dedication, the hard work of all the people within the team, both trackside and behind the scenes. This historic moment is theirs as well.”
This project was initially set up in 2018 to provide women with more opportunities to compete in sports car racing at the highest level, as an all-female class win has not been achieved since 1975.
“The Iron Dames project was founded with the belief that women could excel in a male-perceived world as motorsport, and we are incredibly proud of what Sarah, Rahel, and Michelle have achieved. They are proving that dreams have no barriers if you give yourself the means to make them come true. May this day inspire other women around the world to never give up on what they believe in.”
Sarah Bovy, one of the racers on the team, expressed her enthusiasm at the result. “I’m so proud of everybody. We’ve been working really hard for this, and it’s finally here. The wait was long, but we are all super happy to be here tonight.” Her fellow teammate Michelle Gatting mentioned: “The final stint was pressured and stressful for me inside the car, but in the end, the feedback I was getting from our engineer helped make me stay calm. Finally getting this win is something we’ve wanted to achieve for a long time, and it’s quite emotional for all of us. We want to prove that we can compete on exactly the same terms as everybody else and we are here to win races.” Furthermore, Rahel Frey included her summary of their performance during the event: “I think we proved today that we do not crack easily under pressure. To see that we can win races with the Iron Dames in the highest level of GT racing makes me very proud. I also hope this experience is seen by the younger generation.”
The project aims to support not just racers, but also female involvement in other roles such as mechanics, engineers, and managers alike. With a sharp focus and pure determination, the team collectively emphasizes their desire to win both on and off the track.
“We’ve proven that we can win against everyone. We are strong and we are fighters. And slowly but surely, we’re changing the mentality of this sport.”
The Iron Dames also will be competing in the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) Sportscar Championship in 2024, one of the most competitive endurance racing series in the world. The championship will take the team to iconic tracks across the USA, such as Daytona and Sebring in Florida, as well as Raceway Road Atlanta in Georgia for the final race. They already had a promising debut season in 2023 in this series, demonstrating their talent and looking forward to cementing their place in one of the most highly contested championships within motorsport. For the 24 hours of Daytona, in the GT Daytona class, the Lamborghini GT3 EVO 2 #83 will be driven by Rahel Frey, Rachel Bovy, and Michelle Gatting, the fourth driver to be confirmed. The incredible driver lineup for the rest of the IMSA Cup is yet to be confirmed in the coming weeks. (Iron Dames Official Website)
“We are very pleased to announce our return to IMSA Endurance Cup and I would like to thank John Doonan and his team for their very warm welcome to this major championship,” Deborah Mayer stated, according to the official website. “The Iron Dames have consistently shown remarkable passion, determination, and never give up attitude in the competitive world of endurance racing. We’ve recently finished our first season in IMSA and it’s a pleasure to be back in 2024. We can’t wait to come back to the heartfelt atmosphere and good adrenaline of the American circuits and the enthusiastic support from the American crowds for the Iron Dames. We are looking forward to opening the 2024 season at Daytona.”
Doriane Pin, a fellow Iron Dame and 19-year-old earned Revelation of the Year Honors for her stellar debut in the highest levels of endurance racing at the FIA WEC prize-giving ceremony in Bahrain, the first woman to win this highly desired award. As per the official website for the Iron Dames: “The World Endurance Championship’s Revelation of the Year award acknowledges outstanding newcomers and celebrates their dedication, perseverance, and undeniable potential in the highly competitive arena of endurance racing.” The Frenchwoman has earned her place amongst other distinguished individuals who have earned the award, a rising talent, and a leading inspiration for the next generation of racers. Alongside other accomplishments, such as being a Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Champion, winning the Gold Cup class in the 2022 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and being presented with the prestigious Volant d’Or Award by the French Federation of Automobile Sport, Doriane has become a highly respected and accomplished racer, having also tested an FIA Formula 3 car, providing her with more vital racing experience. Throughout the 2023 year, her laps were comparable to her more experienced Platinum-graded teammates, a showcase of her fantastic progress through her first year of prototype racing, according to the official website.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award. Being crowned Revelation of the Year in such a prestigious and competitive championship as FIA WEC means the world to me. It reflects all the work that I have done this year. I want to thank those who gave me this opportunity and put their trust in me; the Iron Dames project and PREMA Racing and each of you guys in the team, it’s been a real pleasure to work with all of you. I have developed a lot as a driver and as a person. I will remember this year for a long time, my first season in FIA WEC representing the Iron Dames project, my first podium at Sebring, and my first Le Mans 24 Hours. I take this award as an extra motivation to continue learning and pushing my limits to make my dreams come true.”
She has also received praise from Réne Rosin, Team Principal of PREMA Racing, and Deborah Mayer herself.
Réne Rosin: “Working with Doriane this year was a great experience. She is a gifted racer and a true team player. Not only she was impressive right from the start, but she even made consistent progress throughout the year, proving to be an outstanding competitor all around. We think she has a bright future in front of her, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!”
Deborah Mayer: I’m very happy for Doriane this evening and congratulate her from the bottom of my heart. She’s a talented driver, but above all, she’s a beautiful person. At just 19, she has brilliantly risen to the LMP2 challenge in one of the world’s most challenging motorsport disciplines. Her determination, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence have set her apart as a rising star in the world of motorsport. She is an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to have her as an Iron Dame and a member of our racing family. We look forward to many more successful seasons together. She knows that we are at her side to help her meet the challenges ahead and achieve her biggest dreams.
The Iron Dames have both experienced racers as well as up-and-coming talents, making them an extremely strong team with the ability to make history in motorsport with their various exploits, significant achievements, and support from the team and Deborah to allow the project to prosper and make a much larger impact for women in motorsport. Their razor-sharp focus and commitment to the sport will hope to ensure their collective success in the racing world.
“We wear a pink suit, it’s true. But when we put our helmets on, we’re drivers who want to win. And nothing more.”
Citations:
[1] HOLDING, JOE. "Historic” Iron Dames Land First All-female WEC Win." Top Gear, 6 Nov. 2023, www.topgear.com/car-news/motorsport/historic-iron-dames-land-first-all-female-wec-win. Accessed 25 Nov. 2023.
[2] "The Iron Dames, an All-female Crew." Lamborghini.com, 8 Mar. 2023, www.lamborghini.com/en-en/news/the-iron-dames-an-all-female-crew. Accessed 25 Nov. 2023.
[3] "DORIANE PIN CROWNED 2023 FIA WEC REVELATION OF THE YEAR." IRON DAMES, 5 Nov. 2023, www.irondames.racing/news/doriane-pin-crowned-2023-fia-wec-revelation-of-the-year/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2023.
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