Frey: Manthey tie-up ‘will take Iron Dames to the next level’
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.
“I’m thrilled to be staying with the Iron Dames for 2025 with Manthey,” enthused Swiss star Frey. “Their enormous experience will take us to the next level and it will be great to be driving the #85 Porsche again in FIA WEC. We have already started working together, and it feels great. I welcome Célia [Martin] to our line-up, too. I’m excited to see what step she can take. Let’s get it started!”
“I’m super-happy to be back in FIA WEC next year and to be competing in my seventh 24 Hours of Le Mans,” added team-mate Gatting – like Frey, a member of the Iron Dames since 2020. “Besides that, we will be back with Porsche in without doubt the most well-known and respected team in the paddock – Manthey.
“It’s a huge step for the Iron Dames initiative, and I cannot wait to see what we can do. Going with Rahel into our seventh season together, I hope we can achieve some great results. With Célia joining as our new Bronze-graded driver, I have no doubt that she will do very well. We will try to prepare her as much as possible over the winter in the Asian Le Mans Series.”
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.
“It is an honour to join forces with such a renowned brand as Porsche Motorsport, that shares the same goal of leaving a lasting legacy in motorsport while driving progress,” commented Iron Dames founder, Deborah Mayer. “The Iron Dames project has always been rooted in the power of dreams to overcome barriers. Our journey is not just about competing at the highest level, but also about proving that the racing world holds a place for everyone with passion and determination.
“Together, we aim to set new benchmarks, empower women in endurance racing, support upcoming female drivers, change perceptions and inspire the next generation. ‘Porsche X Iron Dames’ provides more than just a fresh impetus for women in motorsport, it sends a powerful statement that every dream is worth pursuing, no matter how ambitious. I look forward to seeing Célia, Michelle, Rahel and Sarah [Bovy] racing Porsche cars all over the world again and to seeing the ‘Every Dream Matters’ movement flourish with them.”
“Porsche stands for a culture of equal opportunities and diversity,” added Porsche Motorsport Vice-President, Thomas Laudenbach. “We firmly believe that diverse teams are more successful. Encouraging women to get involved in motorsport and then supporting them in competition is something we value highly.
“Since our customer teams have already celebrated success with the Iron Dames, we’re now taking the logical next step. We are very confident that the collaboration will produce outstanding results and that we can underpin our contribution to the promotion of women and girls in motorsport with victories and podium finishes.”
