Iron Dames
The first women’s team writes motorsport history – with a Swiss woman at the top
Women are still a rarity in motorsport. But something is happening. Also thanks to all-female racing teams like the Iron Dames, led by the Swiss racing driver Rahel Frey.
von
Isabelle Riederer / A&W Verlag
updated
The Iron Dames Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey and Sarah Bovy are the only all-women team in motorsport.
Iron Dames
The bright pink Lamborghini is undoubtedly an eye-catcher. The color is a statement and an eye candy at the same time. After all, sitting in the cockpit of the Lamborghini Hurricane GT3 EVO2 all women, the Iron Dames – the first all-female racing team in the history of endurance racing. An extraordinary racing team that not only brings color to the most famous racetracks in the world. The Iron Dames are actively committed to women in motorsport and support them at all levels – from drivers and mechanics to engineers and managers to marketers. The Iron Dames team also consists exclusively of women.
Deborah Mayer founded the Iron Dames five years ago. The French entrepreneur is a successful racing driver herself and was appointed President of the FIA Commission for Women in Motorsport (WIM) in 2022. Her goal: to give greater consideration to women in all areas of motorsport. The FIA has made major efforts in recent years to increase the visibility of women in motorsport and to encourage women of all ages to compete at the highest level.
The four iron racing ladies (from left): Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, Doriane Pin and Michelle Gatting.
Iron Dames
Since this season, the Iron Dames’ working machine has been a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, with which they also competed in the legendary 24-hour race in Daytona in January. In the picture the Ferrari 488 GT3.
Iron Dames
Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy also visited The ICE in St. Moritz together with Lamborghini at the end of February.
Lamborghini
Historic triumph: Last year, the Iron Dames won the tradition-steeped 24-hour race in Spa, thereby writing motorsport history.
Iron Dames
The Swiss racing driver Rahel Frey has been with the Iron Dames since the beginning. She is one of the fastest racing drivers in the world and was even classified as an FIA gold driver in 2022.
Iron Dames
The Iron Dames belong to the Italian racing team Iron Lynx, which was founded by Andrea Piccini, Deborah Mayer, Claudio Schiavoni and Sergio Pianezzola.
Lamborghini
An entry for the motorsport history books
The best example of this are the Iron Dames. Her track record grows larger every year. In recent years, the team, led by Swiss racing driver Rahel Frey, has secured a total of 17 pole positions and 51 podium finishes, including four top ten finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. High point so far: Class victory at the 24-hour race in Spa last year. An entry in motorsport annals as never before has an all-female team put on such a feat.
Rahel Frey has been a racing driver for over 20 years and has been an Iron Lady from the very beginning. She is one of the fastest racing drivers in the world and was even classified as an FIA gold driver last year. An honor previously only bestowed on her compatriot Simona Da Silvestro and Canadian Katherine Legge.
Women still have a hard time
Together with her Iron Dames teammates, Michelle Gatting from Denmark, Sarah Bovy from Belgium and Doriane Pin from France, who is just 19 years old, Rahel Frey regularly causes a stir. Traditionally, women have had a hard time in motorsport, not because of their abilities, but because it is a sport steeped in tradition and primarily dominated by men. Women have always participated in motorsports, but changing socio-political currents have meant that they have been routinely banned or excluded at various times in history. As a result, it’s still very rare for women to compete at all – and an all-women team is even rarer.
The spectators of the legendary 24-hour race in Daytona in the USA a few weeks ago must have been all the more surprised. An all-women team? In Daytona? A pink Lamborghini? This has never happened before! The excitement and fascination were great. The four iron ladies were the topic of conversation, even if the team had to settle for a place in midfield at the end of the 24 hours. Despite everything, it was a success for the first race of the season. Their appearance in the top North American sports car series IMSA, where they contest the Michelin Endurance Cup, will not be their last, and the Iron Dames will also demonstrate their skills in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, including on the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. And they will also stand out there – as the only all-female racing team.