Doriane Pin teams up with Marta García for Iron Dames FRECA squad

Doriane Pin announced she is set to contest the full FRECA season in a Iron Dames line up, teaming up with Marta García.

Photo credits: Iron Dames

Iron Dames' involvement in single seaters have just reached a new level as the project founded by Deborah Mayer which started in endurance racing is now set to enter a full-female duo in the upcoming Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.

The team thus welcomes a stellar driver line up - with newly announced Marta García alongside Doriane Pin, two of the brightest female talents currently in formulas. García, who won the inaugural season of the F1 Academy championship, had stepped up to FRECA thanks to a progression path promoted by F1 Academy itself, before she was enrolled in the groundbreaking Iron Dames family earlier this week.

Twenty-year-old Pin had already established herself as one of the leading young drivers in sportscar racing, both in GT and LMP2 machinery, then moved to single seaters for the first time at the end of 2023, when she made her F4 debut in the South East Asian championship. She took her first win in her second weekend, and went on to finish second in the championship despite having missed one round. Later, she contested the highly-competitive F4 UAE championship, where she also won a race among the world's top F4 prospects.

Since then, Pin has been one of the leading protagonists of the all-female F1 Academy series, where she represents the Mercedes AMG team in a Prema Racing entry. She secured a double pole position and took a victory at debut in Jeddah. In pre-season, Pin had also tested the Tatuus Formula Regional car in private testing - and this move gives the young Frenchwoman the opportunity to continue her progression in formulas. At the same time, Doriane is also part of the Iron Dames crew for FIA WEC in the LMGT3 class.

"I feel grateful for this opportunity to participate in such a championship", Pin said. "I’m fully committed to this new challenge and can’t wait to be on track and make the most of it."

"It’s fantastic to take another important step in single-seater racing together with Iron Dames and Mercedes. Together with Marta, we aim to inspire young girls around the world to pursue their dreams fearlessly and embrace opportunities in racing."

Photo credits: Iron Dames

Iron Dames therefore continue to pioneer development programs for female racing drivers across the whole motorsport spectrum, from endurance GT racing to rallying, karting and now top level single seaters.

"I'm delighted that the Iron Dames project is entering FRECA with Doriane and Marta", commented Deborah Mayer. "Stepping into a new single-seater championship is another step in our drive to promote and develop the brightest female talent in motor racing. We look forward to seeing them rise to this challenge and continue their journey to the highest level."

Since its launch in 2019, Formula Regional represents a crucial step in the development of young drivers up the single seater ladder, positioning itself just before the FIA F3 level. With big fields and plenty of young talents supported by F1 teams' academies, it is widely considered as one of the most competitive junior championships in the world - and it will be an important training ground for both Pin and García. The addition of the Iron Dames team on the grid marks a significant milestone for both the project as well as for young female talents moving up the single seater ladder.

For García, it represents the natural evolution for her career, which saw victories at every level - from international karting, to W Series and most recently the dominant showing in F1 Academy.

"I'm really happy to join the new Iron Dames FRECA programme and I cannot wait for the season to start", Marta added. "I’m determined to work as hard as possible to make this project succeed, and by doing so, to really prove our potential. I also look forward to working with Doriane. I think we are a well-sorted combination and that we will work positively together to make the team and ourselves progress, learn and achieve. I want to thank Iron Dames for this opportunity, let’s make the most of it!"

The 2024 FRECA season will feature three female drivers, as F1 Academy runner-up Léna Bühler also joined the ranks of ART Grand Prix.

With pre-season testing currently underway, the 2024 season is set to get underway at Hockenheimring, Germany, on May 12th, for the first of ten double headers. The championship will in fact also visit Spa Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Hungaroring, Mugello, Le Castellet, Imola, Red Bull Ring, Circuit de Catalunya and Monza.