Marta García set for GT racing debut in Ligier European Series at Spa

F1 Academy champion and current FRECA driver Marta García will make her GT racing debut this weekend at Spa Francorchamps, joining the Ligier European Series with Iron Dames, marking her first experience in a GT car.

Reigning F1 Academy champion and current Formula Regional European Championship driver Marta García is set to make her GT racing debut this weekend at the iconic Spa Francorchamps circuit, as she joins the Ligier European Series in a Iron Dames entry.

García, who is part of the all-female squad from 2024, will drive the M-Racing operated #85 Ligier JS2 R, in the support event to the European Le Mans Series.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Ligier European Series with Iron Dames and M-Racing at such a legendary circuit like Spa", Marta said. "This will be my first experience in a GT car, and I am eager to take on this new challenge, learn and adapt as quick as possible."

"It’s an exciting step in my career, and I’m happy to represent Iron Dames in this endeavor and grateful for the opportunity.”

The 24-year-old thus ventures in the world of GT competitions after a wealth of experience in single seaters, having made her debut in Spanish F4 in 2016 after a remarkable international karting career. While García subsequently had to pause her racing for budget constraints, she was among the selected drivers for the inaugural season of W Series in 2019. In her first season in Formula Regional machinery, she immediately claimed victory at Norisring and finished fourth in the championship.

Over three years of W Series, she secured four podiums and a win, and at the series dismissal she joined Prema Racing for the inaugural season of F1 Academy.

In the F1-promoted all-female championship, García had a spectacular and dominant run to win the title with 7 race victories, 12 podiums, 5 pole positions and 6 fastest laps. The Spaniard went on to graduate to FRECA, thanks to a F1 Academy promotion program.

Marta has since then joined the ranks of the revolutionary project Iron Dames, and teamed up with Doriane Pin in FRECA, where she is currently making good progress each weekend, with several top-20 finishes and a personal best of 15th in one of the most competitive junior single seater championships in the world.

The Valencian will now join her Iron Dames teammates Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting (who will compete in ELMS), as well as Célia Martin and Karen Gaillard (in Michelin Le Mans Cup) at Spa Francorchamps this weekend, making her first ever appearance at the wheel of a GT car in the Ligier European Series.

The one-make series features two classes - the JSP4 prototype and the GT-based JS2 R car, which García will aim to get familiar with in the two 40-minute practice sessions on Friday, followed by two 15-minute qualifying sessions. Two one-hour races are scheduled for Saturday, which Marta will contest in a solo effort.

The Ligier European Series - that has also featured fellow female drivers Logan Hannah, Sita Vanmeert and Cindy Gudet in the previous rounds - represents a stepping stone to the endurance pyramid, and García's debut is yet another strong testament of Iron Dames' development programme for elite female drivers at the top of motor racing.