A POSITIVE NOTE DESPITE DIFFICULT RACE FOR THE IRON DAMES IN THE GTWCE AT NURBURGRING

The all-female line up of Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey took part in the fourth round of the GT World challenge Europe Endurance Cup, a three-hour race at the fearsome Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
The GT World Challenge Europe is one of the most competitive GT championships of the 2023 season with a record 56-car grid set to contest the Endurance Cup.

In the morning, the trio achieved an outstanding qualifying performance, setting the fastest average combined lap in category and putting the pink #83 on the front row for what was set to be a tough race on a highly challenging circuit demanding the utmost of both drivers and cars.

The pole position was the team’s first of the 2023 season and the first ever with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO 2, and earned a bonus point in the Championship.

The race that followed was more mixed and disappointing. An unfortunate contact from behind at the first corner ruined their podium hopes and relegated them to the back of the pack. From then on it was a race against the clock to regain positions and they fought relentlessly.

Rahel, who took the start, had worked her way into 10th in class before contact with another car sent her into another spin.

Undeterred, she had fought her way into 10th again before handing over to Sarah. During the Belgian driver’s stint, she was able to close the gap to the cars in front, and when Michelle took over, the #83 had worked its way back into eighth in class.

Michelle battled hard in the final part of the race but dropped a couple of positions back to 12th by the chequered flag in the closely-fought Bronze Cup.

The next race for the Iron Dames in the GTWCE Endurance cup will take place at Barcelona from 29 September to 1 October.

It was a positive weekend for the Iron Dames, a stage full of lessons on their way to success. Although the final result doesn’t reflect their potential and progress with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO 2, there are some very encouraging signs such as a first pole position in category in GTWCE. I would also like to highlight their strong comeback after unfortunate contact at the start of the race thanks to their never give up attitude.

The whole team has been working very hard around them since the start of the season and the progress that has been made is to everyone’s credit. This makes me proud and impatient for the second half of the season. I would like to wish everyone a well-deserved summer break before we all come back together with the passion, enthusiasm and determination that is the hallmark and strength of the Iron Dames team.

DEBORAH MAYER, IRON DAMES PROJECT FOUNDER

It is a frustrating day for us after our excellent qualifying and pole position. We were all highly motivated to achieve a good result. It was a tough race but the very positive thing is that we are getting more familiar with the car, faster and faster, more on the pace and stronger in the fights. All in all, and as always, I want to keep the positivity and keep pushing for Barcelona to finish on a high over there. I am looking forward to being back in the car, fighting again and trying to bring back a few more podiums before the end of the season.

SARAH BOVY

For sure, it is a disappointing result, the start was a pity but we fought right to the end. The pace was decent for all of us and we appreciated the car that the team provided, especially in the rain. In the end, this weekend is a step in the right direction. We saw the potential of the team, the potential of the car. We have to keep working as a team, to be patient and the result will come.

RAHEL FREY

A very disappointing result in the end after starting from pole position. Unfortunately, Rahel got spun around at the race start, and there was nothing she could have done there to avoid it. A pure racing incident where we lost a lot of time. We fought hard to try and come back. We keep going together, accumulating as much information and data as possible and gain as much as experience with the car for the future.

MICHELLE GATTING