Iron Dames announce 2025 FIA WEC line up, operated by Manthey

Iron Dames will partner with Manthey for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, fielding a Porsche 911 GT3 R with a new driver lineup featuring Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey, and Célia Martin, marking a significant step for the all-female team in top-level endurance racing.

Photo credits: Iron Dames

The groundbreaking all-female team Iron Dames announced the partnership with Manthey Racing, as the German team will run the Porsche 911 GT3 R for the only 100% female team on the grid in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Alongside the new technical partnership, Iron Dames also revealed a revised driver line up, which will see gold-rated driver Michelle Gatting returning alongside silver-rated Rahel Frey, with the addition of new bronze-rated Célia Martin, who is promoted to the main line up after impressing in her GT3 debut season in Michelin Le Mans Cup.

This comes after the FIA recategorization of Sarah Bovy, who has earned her silver-status after outstanding performances over the last few years, which included 13 pole positions over the entered series - seven of which in FIA WEC - as well as a fastest lap in World Endurance Championship. The Belgian will still be part of the Iron Dames team in different programmes.

The new line up represents a mix of experience and continuity with the emerging talent of Célia Martin, who joined Iron Dames in 2023 and is now ready for the next level of competition, at the top of endurance level.

“When I started my journey in motorsport, I always hoped that one day I could compete in top-level GT and endurance racing", Martin said. " If you had asked me for the ultimate dream, it would be this – FIA WEC, Iron Dames and to top it off with Manthey as well. It really is a dream come true. I can’t thank Iron Dames enough for this opportunity and can’t wait for the season to start.”

Martin will be assisted by her two experienced teammates, who proved over the past years to belong to the top of sports car racing: Michelle Gatting is ready to tackle her seventh 24 Hours of Le Mans and will again be leading the team as the gold-rated driver in FIA WEC, as well as in Asian Le Mans Series, returning behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R in the LMGT3 class.

“It is a huge step for the Iron Dames project, and I cannot wait to see what we can do all together", the Danish driver commented. "Going with Rahel into our seventh season together, I hope that we can achieve some great results together. With Celia now joining as our new Bronze-graded driver, I have no doubt that she will do very well. We will try to prepare her as much as possible during the winter in the Asian Le Mans Series."

Swiss driver Rahel Frey - an athlete whose racing resumé needs no introductions, with experience over the last two decades from single seaters to the top GT competitions in the world - has been a pillar for the all-female team since its foundation and will return to FIA WEC in 2025.

“I’m thrilled to be staying with the Iron Dames FIA WEC Team for 2025 with the renowned championship-winning team Manthey", Rahel stated. "Their enormous experience will take us to the next level and it will be great to be driving the Porsche #85 again at the highest level."

"We have already started working together and it feels great as the team has welcomed us with joy. I also welcome Celia as the new Bronze-graded driver in our FIA WEC driver line-up. I'm excited to see what step she can take after just one year in the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Let’s get it started!”

The Iron Dames squad had been operated by Iron Lynx in 2024 aboard the #85 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2, but the exit of Lamborghini in the 2025 season will see Iron Lynx running the new Mercedes AMG LMGT3 entries. Iron Dames however will continue their partnership with Porsche, after running competitively in the 2023 FIA WEC - when they claimed victory in the final race in the LMGTE category - as well as in the 2024 European Le Mans Series with the German brand.

For the first time, their cars will be prepared by highly-respected Porsche team Manthey, who secured first and second place in the 2024 LMGT3 FIA WEC class.

"We are proud to join forces with the Iron Dames in the WEC next year", said Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director, Manthey Racing GmbH. "We have always admired the project and have had many exciting but fair on-track duels with them in the past."

Gatting and Martin had tested the Manthey championship winning car in the FIA WEC rookie test in Bahrain, following this year's season finale.

The 2025 season is set to get underway in February, with the Prologue and the Qatar 1812km race, at Lusail International Circuit, for the first of eight rounds.

Before that, Iron Dames will be competing in the upcoming Asian Le Mans Series.