Iron Dames driver Michelle Gatting has been withdrawn from the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend, after suffering an injury during the Test Day on Sunday.
The Dane will be replaced by team regular Sarah Bovy (below), for what will be the Silver-graded Belgian’s fifth start in the race. She will share the all-female crewed #85 Porsche 911 LMGT3.R alongside full-season drivers Celia Martin and Rahel Frey.
“Iron Dames and Manthey regret to announce that Michelle Gatting will not be taking part in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans after sustaining foot fractures during a pit stop driver change in yesterday’s test session,” the team said in a statement.
“This is deeply disappointing for Michelle and the entire team, but she is in good spirits and now focusing on her recovery, with the full support of everyone at Iron Dames and Manthey. Sarah Bovy will step in to join Rahel Frey and Célia Martin in the Iron Dames line-up.
“With four previous Le Mans starts and a strong track record, her experience and determination will be key as the team takes on this year’s challenge.”
Gatting added on social media: “I don’t even know where to start. This is the race we are all preparing for, this is the highlight of the year, this is THE race of them all. 24h of Le Mans that I had the pleasure of doing six times as an Iron Dame.
“This year was going to be my seventh time, still as an Iron Dame, but also as a Porsche Driver. I worked extremely hard to be ready for this since the beginning of the year, I had new motivation being a newly signed Porsche driver, and also getting the chance of racing with one of the best Porsche teams, if not the best, Manthey.
“I felt ready, fit, lighter than ever, but it wasn’t meant to be. Yesterday, during a regular pitstop, which I did so many of in my career, there was an incident which resulted in two broken fractures on my right foot. The pain in that moment was the worst I have ever felt, and I knew it was going to be the end of my Le Mans journey this year.
“I’m heartbroken, as Le Mans is very close to my heart, so close that I have it tattooed on my arm to remind myself of my journey getting there the first time back in 2019.
I’m motivated and determined to come back even stronger, but for now, it’s full time for recovery in order to do so.
“I’ll hand over my seat to my dear teammate and very close friend Sarah, and I’m sure she will do absolutely great together with Rahel and Celia, whom I will support this year from the sidelines.
“Thank you to everyone for the support in this very difficult moment in my career.”
DSC sources suggest that the injury was caused by the #85 Porsche being dropped on one of Gatting’s feet.
This news adds further disruption to the team’s plans in June, after it was forced to withdraw its Porsche from the Road To Le Mans support races due to an illness for Vanina Ickx.
Gatting & Bovy images courtesy of WEC/DPPI
