The Iron Dames became the first all-female crew to win an FIA World Endurance Championship race, proving one team owner’s belief that men and women can compete equally in motorsport.
Sarah Bobby, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frei took pole position for the final race of the GTE era, the Bahrain 8 Hours, and won the endurance race at the Sakhir circuit.
The GTE class is one of three classes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, alongside the fastest hypercar division and the second stage LMP2 prototype.
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The trio won by five seconds in the No. 85 Porsche 911 RSR, beating the No. 777 D’Station Racing-managed Aston Martin driven by Japan’s Tomonobu Fujii, Britain’s Casper Stephenson and Australia’s Liam Talbot. I got it.
For Deborah Mayer, who founded the all-female team, this was the culmination of more than four years of hard work to get to the top of the podium.
“What an incredible day for the Iron Dames! It’s hard to express our joy and emotion in words,” said Deborah Mayer, founder of the all-female team.
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“This first win in the FIA World Endurance Championship is a very special moment for me, because this victory is a testament to the project itself and the passion, dedication and commitment of everyone within the team, trackside and behind the races. Because it’s a perfect testament to hard work.” Sheen.
“I want to pay tribute to each and every one of them. This historic moment belongs to them too. This is a world championship victory, but it is also a family victory.”
“The Iron Dames Project was founded on the belief that women can excel in the male-dominated world of motorsport. We are extremely proud of what Sarah, Rahel and Michelle have achieved. I’m proud.
“Since their debut as Iron Dames, they have shown incredible determination, team spirit and a never-give-up attitude, and this win has rewarded them.
“It is proven that there are no barriers to your dreams if you give yourself the means to achieve them.
“May this day inspire other women around the world to never give up on what they believe in.”
Former F1 drivers Sébastien Buemi (Switzerland) and Brendon Hartley (New Zealand), as well as Ryo Hirakawa (Japan), won the final of the FIA World Endurance Championship with an overwhelming victory and also won the hypercar title.
Angola’s Louis Andrade, Switzerland’s Louis Deletraz and Poland’s former F1 driver Robert Kubica won the LMP2 category.
In 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship will abolish LMP2, allowing more hypercars to line the grid. LMP2 cars will continue to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Based on FIA GT3 regulations, GTE will be abolished and the new LMGT3 formula will be adopted.