Iron Dames founder Deborah Mayer succeeds Michéle Mouton at the helm of the FIA Women In Motorsport Commission.
12 years after the creation of the FIA Commission for Women In Motorsport, French rally legend Michéle Mouton stepped down as President last December, leaving an unbelievable legacy. Mouton, World Rally Vice-Champion in 1982 in an Audi factory entry, has become a worldwide icon for women in the sport and brought the issues of gender equality within motor racing to the forefront with countless projects.
Among the others, FIA WIM supported several female talents in some of the world's top championships, especially in endurance racing. With the Commission's backing, Richard Mille Racing and Iron Dames climbed the ladder of endurance racing in ELMS and FIA WEC with all-female crews, and made history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Tackling the lack of female participation in single seaters, FIA WIM launched the "Girls On Track: Rising Stars" programme, with the aim of selecting the most promising female karting drivers and supporting their debut in F4. Thanks to the partnership with Ferrari, the winners have been signed by the prestigious FDA academy.
The "Girls On Track" campaign has also brought motorsport to schools and closer than ever to a wide variety of young female enthusiasts.
While Mouton has been a groundbreaking figure, her successor is just as inspiring: Iron Dames founder, entrepreneur and racing driver Deborah Meyer will become the next FIA Women In Motorsport President.
“I am honoured and very proud to start this new chapter as president of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission." - commented the newly-appointed President Mayer. "My passion for racing and the inclusivity of women in motorsport is something that’s very near and dear to me, and my desire to continue the great progress that’s been made within the FIA over the past few years is extremely high."
"Michèle Mouton has been the backbone of this commission for the past 12 years and her rich history in racing makes her such a great figure to look up to, especially for me being French, but also for any woman looking to make her mark in motorsport. I have great shoes to fill, but it’s something I am ready for."
A racing driver herself with several seasons of Ferrari Challenge under her belt, Mayer has also raced in the Blancpain GT series, Italian GT and, most recently, in the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Under her leadership, Iron Dames has become an international powerhouse with presence in all the major GT championships, has cemented a fruitful partnership with Ferrari and is extending its presence in F4 alongside Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab.
Her passion for the sport and for encouraging women in all the aspects of motor racing has brought Mayer closer to the Federation, until today's appointment to the Presidency of FIA WIM.
“Talent has absolutely nothing to do with gender, and I will give it my all to actively support all women in motorsport not just at the racing level, but also in every sector of racing from management to engineering." - she stated.
" It is critical to inspire the next generation of young women to chase and achieve their dreams of competing at the highest level with the best talent in the world, regardless of gender. I will give my everything to this cause and I believe with initiatives like FIA WIM, we have the steps in place to make this a reality.”