Iron Dames has introduced its exit from the World Endurance Championship on the finish of the 2025 season, wrapping up a five-year spell within the collection.
The Italian-Swiss organisation has fielded all-female driver line-ups within the WEC since 2021, campaigning a wide range of equipment throughout the GT ranks.
However forward of the publication of the official 2026 entry record in early December, the staff confirmed it has not submitted an software to compete in subsequent 12 months’s LMGT3 class.
Iron Dames mentioned the choice was primarily based on strategic concerns, whereas stressing that it’ll proceed to compete elsewhere in motorsports.
The staff will talk its actual plans for 2026 at a later date.
“The FIA WEC entry record might be revealed quickly — and when it’s, you received’t see a Porsche entry below the Iron Dames banner,” it mentioned in an announcement.
“We all know this will likely come as a shock — and should really feel emotional for a few of our followers. However it’s a change by design — one which strengthens our long-term imaginative and prescient.
“That is the following step ahead of a performance-driven venture that by no means stops evolving and redefining the norm.
“Since 2021 in FIA WEC, the Iron Dames have stood on the summit of world endurance racing — proving that expertise has no gender, that dedication strikes mountains, and that ladies belong on the largest stage of motorsport.
“As the one all-female line-up for 5 seasons, we didn’t simply participate — we reshaped the narrative and left a cultural mark, with unforgettable moments just like the historic Bahrain victory in 2023.
“Racing is our floor, our drive, and nonetheless certainly one of our strongest frontiers — and sure — we’ll be on many racetracks in 2026, dames and younger skills additional strengthening the way forward for the venture. The Iron Dames spirit has by no means lived on one grid solely.
“Our journey taught us that standing nonetheless is rarely an choice.
#85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Celia Martin, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting
Picture by: Shameem Fahath
“Our objective lives within the subsequent step — within the mission to maintain climbing, preserve inspiring, preserve dreaming large.
“What started on monitor has grown into a robust motion — one which reaches far past motorsport — and you’re a part of it.
“Your help fuels every thing we do — in the present day and tomorrow.”
There have been reviews for a number of months suggesting that DC Racing Options, the mother or father firm behind Iron Dames, Iron Lynx and Prema Racing, has been dealing with monetary difficulties.
Following Iron Lynx’s cut up with Lamborghini on the finish of 2024, rising uncertainty surrounding Prema’s IndyCar programme and the latest public sale of a automobile assortment linked to Claudio Schiavoni, the closure of the Iron Dames’ WEC effort marks the fourth important setback for a DC Racing Options venture previously 18 months.
Iron Dames made its WEC debut in 2021 by way of a collaboration with the sister Iron Lynx organisation, operating the Ferrari 488 GTE within the GTE Am class.
Its breakthrough season got here in 2023 with the swap to the Porsche 911 RSR-19, when Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey claimed a historic GTE Am victory in Bahrain and completed second within the championship.
Iron Dames remained within the WEC following the introduction of GT3 laws, shifting to the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 and securing a greatest results of fourth at Le Mans.
When Iron Lynx’s partnership with Lamborghini ceased on the finish of 2024 and it solid a brand new alliance with Mercedes, Iron Dames went its personal separate means, aligning with reigning champion Manthey for its second entry with the Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Frey and Gatting stayed on on the staff, whereas Celia Martin made her WEC debut instead of Bovy.
However whereas the opposite Manthey entry pushed by Ryan Hardwick, Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera received the title, the Iron Dames trio mustered only one top-five end all 12 months within the #85 Porsche.
Outdoors of the WEC, Iron Dames has loved a daily presence within the European Le Mans Sequence and the Le Mans Cup, whereas additionally showing in choose races within the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Iron Dames has been notably profitable within the ELMS, scoring wins in every of the final three seasons. Its 2025 ELMS entry featured Gatting, Martin and Bovy.
Regardless of Iron Dames’ exit, Manthey is anticipated to proceed within the LMGT3 class subsequent 12 months with a two-car Porsche staff.
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