Porsche Motorsport has signed up for an alliance with all-women workforce Iron Dames which is able to final for “a number of years” and see the workforce flying Stuttgart colours within the FIA WEC, European Le Mans Collection, Asian Le Mans Collection, and IMSA sports activities automobiles. Since Lamborghini’s choice to depart the FIA WEC, leaving Iron Dames holding the empty bag, the workforce has been on the lookout for a brand new producer to work with in future seasons. As a part of the deal Iron Dames driver Michelle Gatting shall be promoted to official Porsche manufacturing unit driver.
The Iron Dames mission started in 2019 and has grown to turn into one of many nice fan favourite sports activities automotive groups. Whereas the workforce has largely saved to the FIA WEC and ELMS, the place it has discovered race victories (fittingly in a Porsche in 2023) and a number of other additional podium finishes, it has participated in a variety of one-off appearances in IMSA. I sit up for seeing what the workforce can handle as a full factory-supported entry in 4 globally necessary sequence.
The brand new partnership begins efficient instantly with the kick off of the Asian Le Mans Collection on the 4 Hours of Sepang on the December 8. Whereas the workforce was beforehand operated with assist from Italian workforce Iron Lynx, although will stick with it with Porsche operations cut up between in-house racing workforce Manthey and Proton Competitors.
Michelle Gatting, as a Porsche manufacturing unit ace, will see some critical on-track time operating in all 4 sequence. She shall be joined in a full-season WEC marketing campaign by Rahel Frey and Celia Martin. Throughout the IMSA season she’ll have Rahel Frey and Sarah Bovy as teammates with Karen Gaillard becoming a member of for the 24 Hours of Daytona. Gatting, Bovy, and Martin will workforce up for European and Asian Le Mans Collection. In all instances the Iron Dames shall be fielding present Porsche GT3-spec equipment towards among the greatest tin prime racers on the planet.
Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames mission founder mentioned: “It’s an honor to hitch forces with such a prestigious model as Porsche Motorsport, that shares the identical ambition of leaving an enduring legacy in motorsport whereas driving progress. The Iron Dames mission has at all times been rooted within the energy of goals to shatter limitations and our journey is not only about competing on the highest degree but in addition proving that the racing world holds a spot for everybody with ardour and dedication. Collectively, we intention to set a brand new course for empowering ladies in endurance racing by 2025, creating future feminine drivers, reshaping perceptions and encourage the subsequent technology. Porsche X Iron Dames is greater than a brand new momentum for girls in motorsport, it’s a robust assertion that each dream, regardless of how bold, is price pursuing. I sit up for seeing Celia, Michelle, Rahel, and Sarah around the globe racing with Porsche once more and the ‘Each Dream Issues’ motion rising with them.”
Porsche shall be merging its junior driver program with the Iron Dames Younger Abilities program, offering a better path for younger ladies drivers to graduate from karting to racing at Le Mans. I hope that is Porsche constructing an incredible assist construction for girls in racing, and believing in ladies competing on degree taking part in discipline with males. Good for Porsche, good for Iron Dames.
