The women's team Iron Ladies of the In LMGT3 will change Lamborghini by Porsche next season with the teamcurrent champion.
Confirmation that the program which has so far achieved one victory in its category and four podiums in the WEC, the change of manufacturer took place this Thursday, the day after the parent team. would announce that partners with Mercedes for its 2025 LMGT3 season.
The announcement means that the organization Iron Lynxwhich previously fielded the Iron Dames car, is expanding its representation in LMGT3 from two to three competitors next year.
The change was predictable after Michelle Gattingregular driver of the Iron Dames in WEC, will test one of the two Porsche 911 GT3-R of Manthey Racing during the official category series rookie test in Bahrain earlier this month with .
Gatting will drive the 911 GT3-R next year with his teammate Rachel Freyfor what will be his fifth WEC campaign with Iron Dames.
Martin joins the WEC to fill the mandatory bronze category driver slot after a season with the Iron Dames competing with a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 in the Le Mans Cup, as part of the European Le Mans Series.
#92 Manthey Purerxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Gilian Henrion, Celia Martin, Michelle Gatting
The 33-year-old pilot takes the place of the mainstay of Iron Dames Sarah Bovywhich was reclassified to silver status by 2025.
Iron Lynx has already established ties with Porsche.
For its 2023 GTE Am season, iRON has changed Ferrari by the German manufacturer, then came the announcement of a partnership with Lamborghini for a vast program which included the entry of the Italian manufacturer into the prototype category in 2024 with a new LMDh.
Iron Dames also took part in the ELMS this year with Porsche, after continuing with Proton.
Deborah Mayer, founder of Iron Lynx, said: “Returning to Porsche and collaborating with Manthey represents a new milestone for the Iron Dames. »
“I have every confidence in Manthey’s experience and dedication to excellence, which aligns perfectly with our ambition to shine at the highest level.”
“We are committed to writing a new chapter in the history of Iron Dames endurance racing, proving that women have their rightful place at the top of the sport and inspiring generations to come.”
#85 Porsche 911 RSR Iron Dames – 19: Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey
The CEO of Manthey, Nicholas RaederHe added: “We are proud to partner with the Iron Dames in the FIA WEC next year.”
“We have always admired the project and have had many exciting but fair duels with them on the field in the past.”
Celia Martin explained that by racing in the WEC with the Iron Dames, she was fulfilling an ambition.
“When I started my career in motorsport, I always hoped that one day I would be able to compete in high-level GT and endurance racing,” he said.
“If you asked me about my ultimate dream it would be this: the FIA WEC and the Iron Dames, and to top it all off with Manthey it truly is a dream come true.”
The full Manthey crew, which is part-owned by Porsche, has yet to be announced ahead of the planned reveal of the WEC 2025 entry list this Friday.
The training of Alex Malykhine, Joel Sturm and Klaus Bacher, championship winner and racing under the Manthey PureRxcing banner, will not be repeated.
Belarusian Malykhin has also been promoted to the silver class and will move to LMP2, starting with a program in the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series which begins at Sepang next month.
It is not yet known whether Lamborghini will be represented in LMGT3 WEC next year. It seems unlikely that he will make the Hypercar grid with his SC63 LMDh.
