Iron Dames confirm exit from 2026 FIA WEC grid

Iron Dames have confirmed that the groundbreaking all-female team will not appear on the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship grid, ending a five-year presence in the world’s premier sportscar series.

Photo credits: DPPI

Iron Dames, the groundbreaking all-female motorsport project that has reshaped the landscape of women in motorsport in endurance racing, have confirmed they will not appear on the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship grid, marking the end of a five-year presence in the world’s premier sportscar series.

The announcement follows weeks of speculation surrounding the future of the team, which has been a mainstay of the FIA WEC since 2021. The project led by founder Deborah Mayer however reaffirmed its long-term vision and stated the decision is part of a next step aimed at strengthening the team’s future.

“When the FIA WEC Entry List is revealed, you won’t see a Porsche entry under the Iron Dames banner. We know this may feel emotional for some of our fans — but it’s a change by design, one that strengthens our long-term vision.” Iron Dames' statement reads, addressing fans directly.

“As the only all-female line-up for five seasons, we didn’t just take part — we reshaped the narrative with unforgettable moments like the historic Bahrain victory in 2023.”

Crucially, the organization stressed that it is not stepping away from racing: "Racing is our ground, our drive, and still one of our strongest frontiers — and yes — we’ll be on many racetracks in 2026, Dames and young talents further strengthening the future of the project. The Iron Dames spirit has never lived on one grid only."

Founded in 2018 by Mayer, the Iron Dames project made its first competitive appearance in 2019 in the European Le Mans Series, immediately securing podium results and finishing fourth in the standings in both 2019 and 2020. The team quickly proved its concept: with proper support and preparation, female drivers could compete on equal terms at the highest levels of endurance racing.

In 2021, the project stepped onto the world stage with its FIA WEC debut. After early lineup adjustments, the program hit its stride in 2022, scoring three world championship podiums, including second at Monza, second at Fuji, and third at Bahrain, ultimately finishing third in the LMGTE championship. Sarah Bovy also made history with the first-ever pole position for a woman in the FIA WEC.

The breakthrough victory arrived in 2023 at the Bahrain season finale, securing the team the runner-up spot in the final LMGTE season before the championship’s transition to LMGT3. Over the years the squad cycled through multiple manufacturers - beginning with Ferrari, achieving its most successful WEC campaign with Porsche in 2023, before becoming a factory-supported Lamborghini customer entry in 2024 and competing across multiple global programs including IMSA and GT World Challenge.

In 2025, Iron Dames returned to Porsche machinery, achieving success in ELMS with two race wins and a season-long LMGT3 title fight, although FIA WEC results proved more challenging, with a season's best of fourth at Interlagos.

What began as a race program has since evolved into a multi-disciplinary motorsport and sporting initiative supporting 20 drivers, from karting prospects to Formula 4 talents, to rally competitors, as well as an equestrian team. Several athletes flourished under the Iron Dames banner in 2025, including Doriane Pin, who won the F1 Academy title and Laura van den Hengel, crowned GT Cup Europe ProAm champion. Past title winners include Michelle Gatting and Pin in Ferrari Challenge, as well as Luna Fluxá in Champions of the Future.

Iron Dames have become one of the most influential and popular projects in international sportscar racing, attracted new audiences; as the team prepares to reshape its programs for 2026, fans worldwide now await news of the next phase of a project whose cultural impact has already left a significant mark.