Porsche Motorsport has signed up for an alliance with all-women team Iron Dames which will last for “several years” and see the team flying Stuttgart colors in the FIA WEC, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, and IMSA sports cars. Since Lamborghini’s decision to depart the FIA WEC, leaving Iron Dames holding the empty bag, the team has been looking for a new manufacturer to work with in future seasons. As part of the deal Iron Dames driver Michelle Gatting will be promoted to official Porsche factory driver.
The Iron Dames project began in 2019 and has grown to become one of the great fan favorite sports car teams. While the team has largely kept to the FIA WEC and ELMS, where it has found race victories (fittingly in a Porsche in 2023) and several further podium finishes, it has participated in a number of one-off appearances in IMSA. I look forward to seeing what the team can manage as a full factory-supported entry in four globally important series.
The new partnership begins effective immediately with the kick off of the Asian Le Mans Series at the Four Hours of Sepang on the December 8. While the team was previously operated with support from Italian team Iron Lynx, though will carry on with Porsche operations split between in-house racing team Manthey and Proton Competition.
Michelle Gatting, as a Porsche factory ace, will see some serious on-track time running in all four series. She will be joined in a full-season WEC campaign by Rahel Frey and Celia Martin. Across the IMSA season she’ll have Rahel Frey and Sarah Bovy as teammates with Karen Gaillard joining for the 24 Hours of Daytona. Gatting, Bovy, and Martin will team up for European and Asian Le Mans Series. In all cases the Iron Dames will be fielding current Porsche GT3-spec machinery against some of the best tin top racers in the world.
Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames project founder said: “It’s an honor to join forces with such a prestigious brand as Porsche Motorsport, that shares the same ambition of leaving a lasting legacy in motorsport while driving progress. The Iron Dames project has always been rooted in the power of dreams to shatter barriers and our journey is not just about competing at the highest level but also proving that the racing world holds a place for everyone with passion and determination. Together, we aim to set a new course for empowering women in endurance racing by 2025, developing future female drivers, reshaping perceptions and inspire the next generation. Porsche X Iron Dames is more than a new momentum for women in motorsport, it’s a powerful statement that every dream, no matter how ambitious, is worth pursuing. I look forward to seeing Celia, Michelle, Rahel, and Sarah around the world racing with Porsche again and the ‘Every Dream Matters’ movement growing with them.”
Porsche will be merging its junior driver program with the Iron Dames Young Talents program, providing an easier path for young women drivers to graduate from karting to racing at Le Mans. I hope this is Porsche building a great support structure for women in racing, and believing in women competing on level playing field with men. Good for Porsche, good for Iron Dames.