Iron Dames qualify on second row for 6H of Fuji

Iron Dames will start from the second row of the grid for the FIA WEC 6H of Fuji, with Sarah Bovy qualifying the #85 Lamborghini fourth in the LMGT3 class.

Photo credits: Top Speed / F4 Australia

Iron Dames will line up from the second row of the grid in the upcoming 6H of Fuji, seventh round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, as Sarah Bovy placed the #85 magenta Lamborghini Huracan on fourth place in the Hyperpole session.

The all-female team had a solid progression through practice sessions, with all three drivers showing promising speed at the Japanese circuit in the build-up to qualifying; an eleventh place in Saturday morning FP3 saw the trio continuing their work on race pace with great consistency on long runs.

Sarah Bovy was then ready to take on driving duties for qualifying in a very warm Fuji, with 12 minutes available to gain access to Hyperpole.

Her first timed lap of 1:43.767 put her third in the LMGT3 class, but she soon improved to a 1:41.189, taking the top spot on the leaderboard before being demoted to second by TF Sport’s Van Rompuy, who edged her by 0.079 seconds.

Bovy then pitted with a safe enough time to stay in the top ten. Although François Heriau's Vista AF Corse Ferrari broke the 1:41 barrier to take the lead, Bovy’s time indeed ensured the Iron Dames' place in the second part of qualifying.

The Heart of Racing Aston Martin of Ian James set the pace early on in Hyperpole, while Sarah Bovy followed in fourth with 6 minutes to go.

As times started to tumble, the two United Autosport McLarens took to the top - before Tom Van Rompuy clocked a 1:40.975 that gained TF Sport the provisional pole.

Sarah Bovy had strong sectors one and two - but lost seven tenths in the final sector and was down to eighth place with 2 minutes left on the clock. The Iron Dames found an improvement with a 1:41.265 that placed the #85 Lamborghini in fourth.

Despite a further improvement in sector 1 on the final run, Bovy held fourth and would start from the second row of the grid in Sunday's 6H of Fuji. Pole position in LMGT3 went to the #55 Vista AF Corse Ferrari driven by François Heriau, followed by the #81 TF Sport Corvette and the #95 United Autosport McLaren.

It will be Iron Dames' first start not from the first row of the LMGT3 class since Le Mans, as Bovy had claimed pole position at Interlagos and second place at the latest round at Circuit of the Americas; although a higher starting position compared to the races at La Sarthe, Imola and Qatar earlier this season.

With Bovy, Rahel Frey, and Michelle Gatting known for their race consistency, hopes are high for a good result from the all-female team who currently sits eighth in the LMGT3 standings, aiming to bounce back from an unlucky end to an otherwise positive Lone Star Le Mans race at COTA.

The 6 Hours of Fuji will go green on Sunday 15th September, at 11:00 local time.