Endurance racing has proven to be a hotbed for female talent over the years, with the FIA World Endurance Championship making history in 2021 and becoming the first FIA World Championship with six full-time female competitors. A total of five women racers will take their place on the 62-car grid for the 90th running of the race taking place this weekend at Circuit de La Sarthe.

The female representation is led by the only all-female crew, full-time WEC competitors, the #85 Iron Dames Ferrari LMGTE Am entry of Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey who are returning to Le Mans, forming an unchanged line-up for the second consecutive year. The trio is looking to make further progress and build on their impressive 2022 FIA WEC campaign to date.

Another FIA WEC full-timer, 21 year-old Lilou Wadoux will share the FIA Women in Motorsport-supported Richard Mille Racing-run #1 Oreca 07-Gibson with her regular co-drivers, Charles Milesi and eight-time FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier. For her first participation in the famous race, the young Frenchwoman has high expectations of herself.

After two outings at Le Mans as part of the all-female Richard Mille Racing crew, German racer Sophia Flörsch is set to take the wheel of #47 LMP2 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca, for the first time in her Le Mans history sharing the driving duties with male teammates.

Sarah Bovy said: “The 24 hours of Le Mans means everything to me. Being here in the female line-up with the Iron Dames is just a dream. You have to be very respectful in front of a race like that because everything can happen. We stay very humble in front of the challenge, but we are competitive, strong together and can aim a podium which would be an amazing achievement”

Michelle Gatting said: “Being at Le Mans for the fourth times, still with the Iron dames, shows that our project is really working well. We are doing the right thing, in the right direction. This year, the most important for us is to do better than the three last editions. We just going to fight, be clever, knowing that the race is long and that everything can happen”.

Rahel Frey said: “Being at Le Mans for the fourth times with the Iron Dames means we belong here. We have shown that we plan long term, that we are accepted and successful. We are very much honoured to compete at the highest level. Here in Le Mans, we are aiming the top five, dreaming of the podium and as we are women driving by dream, we keep dreaming”.

Lilou Wadoux said: “For me it is amazing and magical to participate in this exceptional race for the first time at 21 years old in my country representing the French colours. It is a demanding race, our first objective will be to finish it. We are several women present this year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans proving that we are capable of competing with men”.

Sophia Flörsch said: “Le Mans is a really special race, one of the biggest motorsport events worldwide. I am very honoured to be here for the third times in a mix line-up this year with a very race good pace. In a 24 hours race, you never know what can happen, but normally, with the package we have, we should go on the podium of our class”.