Doriane Pin gets Prema LMP2 seat in WEC

Prema Racing announced Doriane Pin as one of its drivers for the #63 LMP2 entry in World Endurance Championship, as the French driver will make her prototype racing debut alongisde a multiple GT program with Iron Dames.

Photo credits: Prema Racing

Sportscar ace Doriane Pin had one of the most outstanding seasons in 2022, claiming the title in Ferrari Challenge Europe in dominant fashion and winning the 24H of Spa in class and the 4H of Portimao as part of the Iron Dames line up.

Her career - just three years since her debut in race cars - is about to take on new challenges as the 19-year-old will enter two new adventures in 2023: the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with Iron Dames, in the team's first North American program; and the World Endurance Championship in a LMP2 seat.

Pin will in fact share the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in the GTD class with Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey - with Sarah Bovy joining the trio at the 24 Hours of Daytona - alongside her racing debut in LMP2 machinery, in the #63 Prema Racing entry. Pin's two teammates will be announced in due course.

“I am very happy and excited to join PREMA for the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023 as an Iron Dame", Doriane said. "I have been working hard for this and I am very delighted for such opportunity and I can’t thank the team enough for their ongoing support."

"I am looking forward to starting the season in Sebring and to reaching our common goals together with the team.”

The young Frenchwoman made her WEC debut in 2022 at Spa Francorchamps, in a one-off appearance for Iron Dames in GTE-Am, before being invited to the Rookie Test in Bahrain at the end of the season. At Sakhir, Pin had the chance to drive the championship-winning Jota LMP2 Oreca, and has also completed some extra mileage in the ELMS-winning Prema LMP2 Oreca at Portimao and Le Castellet.

Pin's promotion to the LMP2 class represents the first move for an Iron Dame in prototypes, alongside partner team Prema. Both teams are in fact under the ownership of Swiss-based company DC Racing Solutions Ltd since 2021.

Doriane's rise in sports car racing continues at an impressive pace: a finalist in the inaugural FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars programme, she moved from touring cars to GT3 machinery in 2021, she scored five podiums over six started races in Michelin Le Mans Cup, before an extraordinary 2022 season when she claimed 9 race wins, 13 podiums, 10 pole positions over 14 races in Ferrari Challenge.

She was promoted to the main Iron Dames line up for the historic Spa 24 Hours success and made ELMS debut in the final three rounds, scoring a second place and a victory. Her Lamborghini debut was just as impressive: at the world finals in Portimao, Pin clinched pole position at debut.

And her chances to continue the trend are high, as she enters a multiple program in premier sports car championships IMSA and WEC with Lamborghini manufacturer's team Iron Lynx and powerhouse Prema Racing - as well as further GT campaigns.

“I am extremely happy for Doriane, and to see an Iron Dame now racing in LMP2 with PREMA in FIA World Endurance Championship", commented Deborah Mayer, Iron Dames' founder. "Doriane is a young, talented and promising driver who had a very positive season last year which is testament to her hard work and determination. I wish her and the rest of the team the best of luck this season.”

The 2023 WEC season will start at Sebring for the 1000 Miles race on March 17th, before moving to Europe for the 6H of Portimao, and the 6H of Spa Francorchamps. The legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans will get underway on June 10th, one month before the 6H of Monza.

The series will again complete its season in Asia, with the 6H of Fuji and the 8H of Bahrain, on November 4th.

Photo credits: Iron Lynx