WEC: Fini Lamborghini and bounce back Porsche for the Iron Dames
After a season with Lamborghini, the Iron Dames return to Porsche for 2025 in the WEC. As announced, the car will be operated by Manthey Racing.
Like in the European Championship. Next season, the 100% female trio of Iron Dames will be back behind the wheel of a Porsche. This news has been circulating in the paddock for a few weeks now, well before the end of the endurance world championship season.
Deborah Mayer’s team made this choice one year after leaving the German brand. The partnership with Lamborghini did not last long. With the Italian racing car, the pink girls struggled a bit, despite two pole positions. The performance of the Huracan was not ideal.
With Manthey Racing.
The Porsche GT3 will be operated by the Manthey team, the current world champion. For the first time, the Iron Dames will race under the expert guidance of Manthey, one of the most successful and respected teams in the field of endurance racing. The team has over 25 years of experience in motorsport and an impressive track record that has contributed to Porsche’s success in GT, including seven overall victories at the 24 hours of Nürburgring, several class wins at the 24 hours of Le Mans, and seven WEC titles. Known for its commitment to precision and excellence, Manthey brings invaluable expertise to the team. Building on this winning formula, the Iron Dames aim to enhance their competitive edge by uniting a common passion for excellence, teamwork, and precision, the team emphasized.
Manthey returns to the 2025 @FIAWEC grid with the #IronDames and #1stPhorm 🚨
🔥 The @IronDames_ No. 85 will be driven by Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Célia Martin
💪 Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera will pilot the Manthey @1stPhorm #Porsche #911GT3R#Manthey pic.twitter.com/HBxvfPn5eR
— Manthey (@manthey_racing) November 21, 2024
« The return to Porsche and the collaboration with Manthey represent a new step for the Iron Dames. I have full confidence in their expertise and dedication to excellence, which perfectly match our ambition to shine at the highest level. Our 2025 team represents both continuity and innovation, as well as the transmission between generations, which is a core value of the project. I am proud of what we have accomplished so far and confident in what lies ahead. We are committed to writing a new chapter in the history of endurance racing for the Iron Dames, demonstrating that women have their rightful place at the top of this sport and inspiring future generations,” adds Deborah Mayer, the program’s founder.
Sarah Bovy absent from WEC program
The Iron Dames took the opportunity to announce the lineup for the upcoming season of the World Endurance Championship. Michelle Gatting and Célia Martin have been officially confirmed by the team, to no surprise. The biggest surprise comes from Rahel Frey being named as the starter instead of Sarah Bovy. Despite the fact that the Belgian driver had secured pole positions for the team and their first victory a year ago.
When I started my journey in motorsport, I always hoped that one day, I could participate in high-level GT and endurance races. If you had asked me about the ultimate dream, it would be this: the WEC, the Iron Dames, and, to top it all off, Manthey. It’s truly a dream come true. I will never thank Iron Dames enough for this opportunity and I can’t wait for the season to start,” emphasized Célia Martin, the new arrival.
One day after the announcement by Mercedes
This announcement comes one day after <a href="/wec/actualite/35230-officiel-mercedes-iron-lynx-sassocient-prochaine-saison-wec.html" title="Official: Mercedes and Iron Lynx join forces for the upcoming WEC season.
"the return of Mercedes to the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, nearly 25 years after their last participation."
