Iron Dames, the pioneering initiative dedicated to promoting women in sports, proudly announces its groundbreaking entry into the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), which is welcoming its first-ever all-female line-up and joining the movement to promote and develop the brightest woman racing talents.
Presented with the unique opportunity to enter the fiercely competitive championship, Iron Dames decided to take up a new challenge, to further establish its role as a gateway for the most outstanding female drivers. Positioned between the Formula 4 and Formula 3 categories, FRECA represents a pivotal step in the development ladder towards Formula One and serves as the perfect platform for emerging talents to ascend the ranks of professional racing. The inclusion of the Iron Dames project in the championship marks a significant milestone in its expansion and mission to develop the champions of tomorrow and propel them to the zenith of every discipline, including single-seater racing.
Headlining Iron Dames’ inaugural FRECA campaign are two formidable female competitors and F1 Academy stars: French sensation Doriane Pin and Spanish talent Marta Garcia, both embodying the spirit of female empowerment and excellence in motorsport, which is the DNA of the Iron Dames project. Marta only recently joined the Iron Dames becoming the 12th representative of the project in motorsport.
“I’m delighted that the Iron Dames project is entering FRECA with Doriane and Marta. Stepping into a new single-seater championship is another step in our drive to promote and develop the brightest female talent in motor racing. We look forward to seeing them rise to this challenge and continue their journey to the highest level,” said Iron Dames Project Founder Deborah Mayer.
Doriane Pin, aged 20, has emerged as one of the most promising talents of her generation, which enabled her to join the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Programme and take part in the 2024 F1 Academy Championship. After delivering an outstanding performance in her debut race in Jeddah, including two pole positions and a commanding victory, she is joining FRECA to further increase her single-seater expertise. With a wealth of solid experience at her young age, she has left her mark in all the disciplines she has competed in, whether in karting, GTs, prototypes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, or recently as a rookie in Formula 4 South East Asia. As part of her busy 2024 program, Doriane is also keeping one foot in endurance racing, participating in FIA WEC races, including the Le Mans 24 Hours as part of the Iron Dames crew.
Doriane Pin shared her excitement, stating, “I feel grateful for this opportunity to participate in such a championship. I’m fully committed to this new challenge and can’t wait to be on track and make the most of it. It’s fantastic to take another important step in single-seater racing together with Iron Dames and Mercedes. Together with Marta, we aim to inspire young girls around the world to pursue their dreams fearlessly and embrace opportunities in racing.”
Marta Garcia, 23, is the latest high-profile addition to the Iron Dames team and was a natural choice for the new all-female FRECA programme. With a career punctuated by victories in the F1 Academy Series, W Series, and prestigious karting titles, Marta Garcia’s track record speaks volumes about her skill and determination. As the inaugural champion of F1 Academy, Marta has consistently demonstrated her ability to excel in a competitive environment, making her a formidable contender in FRECA.
“I’m really happy to join the new Iron Dames FRECA programme and I cannot wait for the season to start. I’m determined to work as hard as possible to make this project succeed, and by doing so, to really prove our potential. I also look forward to working with Doriane. I think we are a well-sorted combination and that we will work positively together to make the team and ourselves progress, learn and achieve. I want to thank Iron Dames for this opportunity, let’s make the most of it!” added Marta Garcia.
The series calendar includes a line-up of ten internationally-acclaimed venues situated on some of Europe’s most famous F1 racetracks. The season will open at Hockenheim on May 12, then move to Spa-Francorchamps on May 26 before heading to Zandvoort on June 9. Hungaroring will host the fourth round of the season on June 23, followed by races on the undulating terrain of Mugello Circuit on July 14 and at Paul Ricard towards the end of the month on July 21. The championship will return to action in Italy at Imola on September 8 and move to Austria at Red Bull Ring on September 15. The penultimate round of the season will take place in Spain at Barcelona on September 29, while the grand finale is scheduled at Monza on October 27.
This news comes less than a week after the announcement of a new technical partnership between the Iron Dames and Motul for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship season. Breaking barriers and innovating, commitment to high performance and embodying core values are just some of the many commonalities between the Iron Dames and Motul. Motul will be providing its world-renowned lubricants, maintenance and care products to the team for the 8-round season which began in Qatar earlier this year and which includes the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
The line-up of Sarah Bovy (BEL), Doriane Pin (FRA) and Michelle Gatting (DNK) will be competing in the new LMGT3 category behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 Evo2. The vibrant trio are up against a formidable field for what has been termed the start of a Golden Era for Endurance, and the Lamborghini is one of no fewer than eight manufacturers in the class.
Photographs Supplied.