An accident spoils everything for the Iron Dames at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
The Iron Dames were on course for a great result, but a Lexus crashed into them in the morning, causing damage to the Porsche.
Frustrating. In one week, the Iron Dames went through all the emotions. From the test day, they lost their leader Michelle Gatting after an accident in the pits. With three fractures in her foot, the Dane had to throw in the towel. Sarah Bovy was called to replace her.
Despite this setback, the female trio conducted solid tests, admittedly trailing behind the other Manthey Porsche, but the race pace was there. During the event, they climbed up the ranks and delivered impressive performances.
Even Célia Martin, for whom it was a first at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was performing well. Apart from a slight collision that one might criticize with a McLaren, the Frenchwoman’s stints were perfect.
In the early morning, while in seventh position, the Porsche #85 was subjected to an over-commitment from a Lexus. The Akkodis team’s car came into contact with the rear of the white and pink car, sending it into the gravel. Rahel Frey, stuck, had to be brought back onto the tarmac by the marshals’ tractor.
Quickly back on track, the Porsche came to a stop again shortly after due to gearbox problems. Once she made it back to the pit, the Swiss driver lost more than 20 minutes, dashing the team’s hopes for a good finish.
« Our rookie, Célia, performed very well. I was very happy that Sarah replaced Michi at the last minute. Honestly, it’s not easy. But we succeeded once again as Iron Dames, another finish. It’s not the way we wanted to finish, but that’s racing », summarized Rahel Frey.
Despite this huge disappointment, the Iron Dames continue to gain momentum in this seemingly difficult-to-drive Porsche. Despite the absence of the gold-rated driver, the female trio delivered an almost perfect performance. A disappointing result – last place – but promising for the second half of the season.
