THE IRON DAMES OPEN THE LMGT3 ERA WITH A PROMISING TOP 10 FINISH

The FIA World Endurance Championship kicked off its season this weekend in the Qatar 1812 km at the Lusail International Circuit. The Iron Dames got off to a very solid start in the fiercely competitive new LMGT3 category, laying the foundations for a promising season.

After qualifying for the Hyperpole, contested by the top 10 of the 18 crews, the trio of Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, and Doriane Pin confirmed their place in the top 10 of the field in the race.
 
Sarah, Michelle and Doriane – the only women on the grid – showed a great deal of determination and remarkable control and made a significant contribution to the consistency of the team throughout the 10-hour race. Their collective effort at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 propelled them to a commendable eighth position amidst challenging conditions, firmly reaffirming their presence among the world’s best endurance drivers.
 
Their race hit issues early on, with contact with the #46 Team WRT BMW necessitating a change of the rear bumper. That did not deter the trio, who kept their heads down and raced on into the night. The early issues behind, the pink car remained solidly in the top 10 as the laps ticked on, eventually finishing comfortably ahead of the Proton Competition Ford.

The four points awarded may prove crucial in the Iron Dames’ overall standings at the end of the eight round season.
 
Looking ahead, Doriane’s highly anticipated debut in the F1 Academy next week in Jeddah marks another milestone for the Iron Dames project. Pin’s entry into the Mercedes-AMG Formula One Junior Programme reinforces Iron Dames project’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a platform for women to develop and reach the top level.
 
The next race for the all-female lineup will be 12 Hours of Sebring in the IMSA Championship, where Bovy, Gatting, and Rahel Frey will once again take to the track, ready to carry the torch on the American continent.
 
Simultaneously, the Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames made a dream debut yesterday in the first round of the Global Champions League, Show Jumping’s Greatest Team Challenge in Doha. The all-female equestrian team brought home their first trophy of the season after two thrilling rounds. This resounding result makes history as the first all-female team of six riders to lead the championship race setting the stage for the greatest an exhilarating season, bringing the Iron Dames’ riders across the globe.

We can be happy with eighth today. There is a bit of work to do, but I think everybody did very well. I’m very pleased with the performance from Sarah, Doriane and the whole team. Hopefully at Imola it will go a bit more in our direction and we should be able to do a good result there.

Michelle Gatting

That is it for the first round of the FIA WEC 2024 with eighth. I think we did a good, consistent race. We are aiming for more and we will keep pushing and working hard to do better in the next race. We still scored some good points at the start of the championship. I also want to say congratulations to the ladies from the Iron Dames Equestrian team. They won their first competition here in Qatar. I am very happy for them.

Sarah Bovy

I think we can be happy with eighth and specially the progression we made during the week with the team. Together with my team-mates, I think we are heading in the right direction. We still missing something to reach the top five, but we look ahead and we will keep working and pushing for Imola.

Doriane Pin