Iron Dames ends FIA WEC program after five seasons

Iron Dames, the woman-led racing team that has been competing for five seasons in the FIA World Endurance Championship, will not return to the series in 2026.

“The FIA WEC entry list will be revealed soon – and when it is, you won’t see a Porsche entry under the Iron Dames banner,” the team said in a statement released on Thursday.

Iron Dames, led by Deborah Mayer, made its WEC debut in 2021 after two seasons in the European Le Mans Series. With a line-up of Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, and Michelle Gatting, the Dames collected three podiums in their second WEC campaign in 2022, and finished third in the LMGTE Am Teams’ Endurance Trophy Standings.

The following year brought a switch to Porsche and a breakthrough first win for Gatting, Frey, and Bovy at the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain.

Since the start of the LMGT3 era, Iron Dames has not enjoyed the same level of success, going the last two seasons without a podium with Lamborghini and Porsche. In the background, the much-publicized financial difficulties that are also affecting sister teams Iron Lynx and PREMA Racing, have left the team’s future as the subject of speculation over the last few months.

Iron Dames has already gone missing from the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entry list after competing in the series for parts of three years, and the announcement that the team will not return to WEC is the latest domino to fall in this saga.

However, the team has told its supporters that it has every intention to continue racing in the future.

“We know this may come as a surprise – and may feel emotional for some of our fans," the team statement read. "But it’s a change by design – one that strengthens our long-term vision. This is the next step forward of a performance-driven project that never stops evolving and redefining the norm.

“Since 2021 in FIA WEC, the Iron Dames have stood at the summit of world endurance racing – proving that talent has no gender, that determination moves mountains, and that women belong on the biggest stage of motorsport. As the only all-female line-up for five seasons, we didn’t just take part – we reshaped the narrative and left a cultural mark, with unforgettable moments like the historic Bahrain victory in 2023.

“Racing is our ground, our drive, and still one of our strongest frontiers – and yes – we’ll be on many racetracks in 2026, Dames and young talents further strengthening the future of the project. The Iron Dames spirit has never lived on one grid only. Our journey taught us that standing still is never an option.

“Our purpose lives in the next step – in the mission to keep climbing, keep inspiring, keep dreaming big. What began on track has grown into a powerful movement – one that reaches far beyond motorsport – and you are part of it. Your support fuels everything we do – today and tomorrow. The story continues! We'll keep you posted.”

The future of Iron Dames’ efforts in the European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup is yet to be determined.