Rahel Frey is confident that the Iron Dames’ partnership with LMGT3 title-winner Manthey Racing will enable the all-female trio to reach ‘the next level’ in its quest for glory in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The new collaboration was announced last month, and means Frey, fellow Iron Dames stalwart Michelle Gatting and series newcomer Célia Martin – who competed for the team in the Michelin Le Mans Cup this year – will take to the track in a Manthey-prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R in 2025 as they bid to write the next chapter in a shared history of success.
Renowned for its precision engineering, Manthey brings invaluable expertise to the Dames, who finished runners-up in the FIA WEC standings behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR-19 in the final season of the LMGTE Am era in 2023, achieving a milestone victory in Bahrain along the way.
Building upon that winning formula, the tie-up not only opens a fresh page with the iconic German manufacturer, but also underscores the pioneering project’s commitment to setting new standards for female-led motorsport excellence and creating a legacy on the endurance racing stage.
Gatting has recently been elevated to official Porsche driver status – marking a major boost in her professional career. There is similarly a far-reaching new alliance between Porsche Motorsport and the Iron Dames, highlighted by the motto, ‘Porsche X Iron Dames: Because Every Dream Matters’, aimed at leading the charge for a more inclusive racing world.
There are plans in the pipeline for the programme to be closely linked to Porsche’s junior development pyramid, with the objective of opening new doors to female participation, establishing opportunities for women to thrive in a perceived male-dominated environment and forging a pathway from karting all the way up to the pinnacle of the sport.
About the Author
