The Iron Dames have confirmed that they will not return to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026, in a statement released this afternoon.
The Deborah Mayer-founded organisation made its FIA WEC debut in 2021, after two seasons competing in the European Le Mans Series.
A first WEC podium was achieved at Monza in 2022, before a maiden victory followed at Bahrain the following the season.
Since the switch from LMGTE to LMGT3 machinery, the Italian outfit has struggled to hit quite the same heights on the world stage. 16 races into the championship’s LMGT3 era, and it is yet to finish on the podium, after two challenging seasons with Lamborghini and Porsche machinery, respectively.
In the background, much publicised financial difficulties have left the team the subject of plenty of speculation in recent months.
Alongside its absence from the 2026 IMSA Sportscar Championship entry list, a series it has contested since 2023, the FIA WEC programme has now been confirmed to be the latest domino to fall as the project downscales.
“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 stated.
“We know this may come as a surprise — and may feel emotional for some of our fans. 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 the team’s European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup efforts, both of which won races in 2025, is yet to be announced.
Images © dailysportscar.com, Iron Dames
