Iron Dames to field first all-female crew at Circuit Paul Ricard 1000km

Iron Dames to field first all-female crew at Circuit Paul Ricard 1000km

History will be made at next weekend's Circuit Paul Ricard 1000km when the first all-female crew tackles a Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup event.

Ferrari squad Iron Lynx will field an additional Pro-Am class entry for Katherine Legge, Sarah Bovy and Doriane Pin as part of its Iron Dames initiative, which aims to develop and inspire the next generation of women in motorsport.

Established international racer Legge will lead the trio, drawing on a vast range of experience that includes a long spell in North America. A diverse competitor, Legge has also appeared in IndyCar, DTM and Formula E machinery in recent seasons. Though no stranger to GT3 equipment, Circuit Paul Ricard will represent her maiden outing in the Endurance Cup.

The same is true of Pin, who at just 17 is considered a star in the making. The youngster only made her circuit racing debut last season in Renault Clio Cup France and has taken the significant step up to GT machinery this term. Pin was also a finalist in last year's FIA Girls on Track - Rising Stars programme. 

The trio is completed by Bovy, the only member of the crew with previous Endurance Cup experience. The Belgian has tackled the Total 24 Hours of Spa on four occasions, most recently finishing as Group National class runner-up in 2018. She has raced a wide variety of machinery in several categories, including two W Series outings in 2019. 

“We have a phenomenal line-up in Doriane, Sarah and Katherine," said Deborah Mayer, the project leader and founder of the Iron Dames programme. "We are exceptionally proud to be able to bring the first all-woman racing squad to race with Ferrari in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS”.

The Iron Dames crew will become the latest female drivers to compete in the Endurance Cup. The first was Claudia Hürtgen, who tackled the Total 24 Hours of Spa in 2011, while Simona de Silversto joined the list last year by making her debut at the Nürburgring. Michela Cerruti has the most starts to her name, contesting 11 Endurance Cup races between 2012 and 2016, while Rahel Frey has also completed a full season in the series. 

There have also been outings for Christina Nielsen, Angélique Detavernier, Stéphane Kox, Abbie Eaton and Caitlin Wood, though two or more women have not previously shared the same car. Next weekend's Circuit Paul Ricard 1000km will represent the second round of the 2021 Endurance Cup championship and the third on the overall Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS schedule. It will reprise its traditional day-night format, with the six-hour contest set to begin at 18:00 CEST on Saturday 29 May.