The Five Female Drivers Making History at the 100th Year of Le Mans

Gatting, Bovy, and Frey for Iron Dames (Image credits: Iron Dames)

2023 marks the hundredth year of The 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, one of the oldest of its kind. Throughout these years, the racing event has been appreciated for its history of encouraging and highlighting female talent in motorsports. Seven years after the first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923, the first instance of female drivers in this race was recorded in 1930 with the entry of Marguerite Mareuse and Odette Siko, who finished seventh with a Bugatti Type 40. Since this first all-female lineup, many more female drivers have taken up this challenge and forged a path of their own in this largely male-dominant field. 

This year, five women are competing in the race that is regarded as one-third of The Triple Crown of Motorsport. 

Three of the five are Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting, and Rahel Frey, who complete the lineup for the returning Iron Dames. Securing a third place in the final standings of the Endurance Trophy for GTE Am Teams in 2022 with 93 points, the Iron Dames have shown the world that their project, which started to encourage women in motorsports, has been a roaring success. 

All three of these drivers have immense talent backing them up, recently winning the LMGTE class at the 4 Hours of Portimão. Currently racing with the Porsche 911 RSR-19, a change from last year’s Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, the Iron Dames are hoping to chase more wins this season. Bovy expressed her excitement about driving the Porsche: 

“Porsche is a legendary brand, and I could say that I drove at Le Mans in a Porsche and a Ferrari, which is no mean feat. The 911 RSR is more of a car developed specifically for endurance racing. It is particularly well suited to performing over the length of a stint. In my career, I have always switched quite easily from one car to another.” 

The Iron Dames project has truly been making its mark in the world of racing to show that women are capable of much more than what some may say. The first female champion of the Ferrari Challenge, Gatting, has commented on this saying: 

“My Ferrari Challenge Europe title was an important step in my career, for the team, and for the Iron Dames project, and it was good to show that [women] are capable of winning races and championships. It's a good start, but the mindset hasn't changed yet. We need more wins and championships to do that. It will take time, but the Iron Dames project is now well known.”

Indeed, the project has certainly been recognised and it serves as a beacon of light for aspiring young female drivers. Frey, who joined the Iron Dames in 2018, has stated: 

“We’ll also do more female selections in the future and build up an organisation enabling Iron Dames to be the first contact for females in car racing. So, if there is a girl who wants to enter the business, not only as a driver, we’ll make sure they know who to contact.”

Doriane Pin (Image credits: Dailysportscar.com)

Aside from the Iron Dames, Doriane Pin, representing Prema Racing, and Lilou Wadoux, racing for Richard Mille AF Corse, complete the roundup of female drivers in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Pin has taken the racing world by storm as the reigning Ferrari Challenge champion. After dominating the Ferrari Challenge with nine wins and ten pole positions, Pin joined the Iron Dames after the third round of the European Le Mans Series in 2022. As one of the youngest drivers in the current WEC season, aged 19, Pin already has a remarkable track record and she shows no signs of stopping. Speaking with femalesinmotorsport.com, the French driver said: 

“I'd like to get to the top level of motorsport - whether it's endurance, in hypercars, or if I'm lucky enough to get into single-seaters and go to Formula 1 someday. That's been my dream since I was a little girl, so obviously I have that in mind. But the goal is really to reach the highest level of motorsport.”

Lilou Wadoux is another French driver whose skills and commitment have helped her shine in motorsports. Powering through difficult moments during her early career, she went on to become the first-ever female Ferrari factory driver in 2023. She drives the Ferrari 488 GTE for this WEC season and completes her team’s lineup alongside Luis Perez Companc and Alessio Rovera. After a clear victory at Spa-Francorchamps, Wadoux became the first female driver to win a race in the World Endurance Championship, and she certainly won’t be the last. Reflecting on this achievement, she said:

Lilou Wadoux (Image Credits: Motorsport.com)

“I’m very proud of that. But also it’s very good points for the championship, and I hope we will be back as strong at Le Mans and for the rest of the season”.

This edition of The 24 Hours of Le Mans is already shaping up to be a victory in terms of providing female drivers with the spotlight they deserve for their talent. On Wednesday, 7th June, Prema Racing set the fastest time during the second free practice session in the LMP2 class, which looks promising for Pin and her teammates ahead of the race this weekend. 

It’s safe to say these five female drivers have been absolutely inspirational while promoting diversity in motorsports. With each of these drivers at the top of their games, it remains to be seen who clinches the victory on Sunday, when history will be made at the centenary edition of the iconic Le Mans race.