Karen Gaillard wins Porsche Junior shootout and secures Carrera Cup France seat

Swiss driver Karen Gaillard made history as the first woman to win the Porsche Junior Shootout, earning a spot in the competitive 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup France after an impressive 2024 season with Iron Dames in Le Mans Cup.

Photo credits: Iron Dames

Swiss driver Karen Gaillard, 23 became the first ever woman to win a Porsche Junior shootout and therefore secured a seat in the next Porsche Carrera Cup France.

The Iron Dame made her GT3 racing debut in 2024, joining the all-female team for the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Making the transition from prototypes in the Ultimate Cup - which she has continued to contest in 2024 in a double program, Gaillard had a very impressive season of development, finishing sixth in the championship with two top five and a podium to her name, having shared the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 with bronze-rated Célia Martin.

Gaillard, who has previously competed in endurance racing in both the Ultimate Cup and 24H Series, as well as in sprint races in Mitjets, prepared for the next level in her career and was among the finalists for the Porsche Junior shootout, which has proven to be a crucial development programme to promote young talents up the Porsche motorsport ladder.

After the selections, Gaillard emerged as the top candidate and secured the historic achievement which will grant her a spot on the 2025 grid of the Porsche Carrera Cup France.

“Being elected Junior Porsche Carrera Cup France is both an honour and a superb opportunity and I know that the work has only just begun because the championship is so competitive", Karen commented. "I'd obviously like to thank the entire Carrera Cup France team, as well as the Iron Dames, my partners and everyone who has always supported me, because without them, none of this would be possible! Congratulations to all the participants, because the standard was really high!"

The French one-make series has been one of the most competitive in Europe, with past graduates including Dorian Boccolacci, Julien Andlauer, Kevin Estre, Ayancan Guven, Come Ledogar, Jaxon Evans, Jean-Karl Verney, Frederic Makowiecki and Patrick Pilet among the others, with most progressing thrugh the ranks of endurance racing with the German manufacturer.

Gaillard is therefore the first woman to be selected in the Porsche Junior Programme and will continue to hone her skills at the wheel of Porsche machinery in 2025.