24h Le Mans
To mark international women’s rights day (8 March), we bring you a series of articles celebrating the women of Le Mans 24 Hours. Women have long played a role in motorsport and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest particularly welcomes and encourages female participants in all its events. Several all-female crews will be taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 13-14 June.
The entry list of 62 teams announced on 28 February comprises two all-female driver crews with a third to be confirmed:
- LMP2, Richard Mille Racing Team: Katherine Legge, Tatiana Calderon and Sophia Flörsch will be sharing the #50 Oreca 07-Gibson.
-LMGTE Am, Gear Racing: Christina Nielsen is confirmed in the #81 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo with her co-drivers to be announced. Meanwhile, Iron Lynx will be fielding the #85 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo with Manuela Gostner, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting back together at Le Mans for the second year running managed by Deborah Mayer (video).
Back in 1975 Michèle Mouton led an all-female crew to victory in the 2-litre Prototype class at Le Mans. According to the chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport committee “A seat at Le Mans is hard to come by, so three all-female crews is a success. There’s still much left to accomplish but I have no doubt that these crews are worthy of the faith placed in them as they work their way towards the pinnacle of their sport, one of the most iconic races on the sporting calendar.”
The biggest female contingent ever recorded at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was in 1935, when the driver line-up comprised ten women.
Photo: The Richard Mille Racing Team takes on the LMP2 field.
