Iron Dames: 2024 endurance lineups
The Iron Dames project continues its expansion with new faces in new disciplines as
Karen Gaillard, Célia Martin in Michelin Le Mans Cup,
Sarah Bruneau and Julie Amblard in French Rally Championship / French Gravel Rally Championship
Natalia Granada in IAME Euro Series / Spanish Championship (CEK).
Since our focus on the 4 major endurance championships (ELMS, GTWChEu, IMSA and WEC), we present Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, Sarah Bovy and Dorianne Pin’s 2024 endurance programs.
IMSA Endurance Cup
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona. Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
The Iron Dames renew the same lineup as last year with Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey in the #83 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2.
The Dames started the 2024 IMSA Championship with a P6 in class at the 24 Hours of Daytona last January being the only Lamborghini team to end the 24 hours race and improving significantly last year result (last, 70 laps behind the class leader after numerous technical hurdles).
Last year the only female trio in the Michelin Endurance Championship ended 15th (equal with 3 other teams) with a P11 at Sebring, a P16 at Watkins Glen and a P12 at Road Atlanta.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona. Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
This year, the Iron Dames will not be the only female trio since last year duo, S. Monk and K. Legge, will count on Tatiana Calderon to form a new only female trio driving the Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3.
FIA World Endurance Championship
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans and Monza 2023. Last race in Europe for the WEC LM GTE AM pack with Sarah Bovy in #85 Porsche 911.
Last year, with a Porsche 911, the Iron Dames ended the championship with a victory at Bahrain and a P2 in the LMGTE Teams and Drivers Championships on top of three poles by Sarah Bovy.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans and Monza 2023. Iron Dames Porsche 911
For the first time since inception of the Iron Dames project, Rahel Frey’ll not be part of the Iron Dames crew. Since a LMGT3 crew must include at least one Bronze Driver, plus another Bronze Driver or a Silver Driver, with Michelle Gatting now classified by FIA as “Gold” driver (as Frey is) she will replace Frey and Doriane Pin will replace Gatting as “Silver” driver. Bronze driver Sarah Bovy remains as the third driver for the new WEC LMGT3 Championship. The trio will drive a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona. Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
With the F1 Academy racer Doriane Pin, who recently won a F4 race, and Sarah Bovy, one of the fastest bronze drivers, the female trio will definitively be among the fastest in class. Let us hope that the Lamborghini Huracan will be as agile and reliable as the Porsche Bovy/Gatting/Frey were driving last year.
European Le Mans Series
📷 © Luc Warnotte. First win for the Iron Dames in ELMS at 4 Hours of Portimao 2022.
The Iron Dames crew was part of the European Le Mans Series Championship from 2019 till 2022 which the ladies finished with a first victory in the last race at Portimao and a P3 in the LMGTE Teams Championship. They did not participate to the 2023 ELMS edition.
📷 © Luc Warnotte. Pole and P5 for the Iron Dames at the 6 Hours of Monza 2023.
Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy will participate to the 2024 ELMS Championship with a Porsche 911 GT3. We bet that they’ll win more races than in 2022 and be on a higher march of the championship podium despite a tougher level of competition with the introduction of new manufacturers like the Ford Mustang.
Related stories
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Monza 2023. Iron Dames, a five years journey to victory.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023. Rahel Frey: 2023 projects and review of 2022 season.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2022 Rahel Frey story and ambitions at Le Mans.
