Iron Dames are set to return to European Le Mans Series in the new LMGT3 class, after a one year hiatus from the series: Michelle Gatting is the first driver announced for the program, and will thus race in both FIA WEC and ELMS.
Having made history with their first ever win in FIA WEC at the Bahrain season finale, Iron Dames became the first all female team to win a race in World Endurance Championship – and the last team to win a race in the GTE category. The class has now been replaced by GT3 regulations in both FIA WEC and ELMS – and the team that last took a win at the 4H of Portimao before taking a year hiatus will now return to the European Le Mans Series.
Iron Dames have in fact announced a return to the series where the project first made its international debut five year ago – and they'll do so with the Porsche 911 GT3 R in the LMGT3 class. The team is now eager to bring their four-year experience of the series and tackle Europe's top sportscar championship – this year featuring 11 cars in the GT3 field in one of the biggest entry lists to date, including a record-22 LMP2 prototypes.
The only driver confirmed for the Iron Dames line up at the time being is Danish ace Michelle Gatting, who will also be part of the FIA WEC line up, as announced last week.
The remaining drivers will be announced at a later date.
After making their debut in 2019, Iron Dames collected 9 podiums and one race win in European Le Mans Series, finishing third in 2022 as a best result. Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Doriane Pin's victory at the 4 hours of Portimão made it to the history books, as the first victory in the series' history by an all-female crew.
"We are thrilled to announce our participation in the European Le Mans Series for the 2024 season" - said Iron Dames founder Deborah Mayer. "This championship has always been a platform for high-level competition whose standards are constantly rising, and our female drivers will be keen to fly the Iron Dames flag high."
"The 2024 season promises to be a thrilling adventure for the Iron Dames, as they embark on a global competition journey that spans multiple continents", she continued. The team is in fact expected to contest the FIA WEC and IMSA campaigns with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, and the European Le Mans Series with the Porsche 911 GT3 R platform - in the team's most ambitious racing schedule since its inception.
"We are ready to take on the challenges with our passion for racing, unwavering determination and never-give-up attitude, so often decisive in the team's journey to the top level", Mayer concluded.
Iron Lynx, the team behind the Iron Dames project, will also run the Lamborghini hypercar program in both IMSA and WEC, and announced a LMP2 entry in ELMS under the banner of Iron Lynx/Proton.
The six round 2024 European Le Mans Series will start at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on the 14th of April, with visits to Le Castellet, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Mugello before concluding in Portimão on the 19 October.