Carla Debard

Carla Debard is a French racing driver who’s been carving her path through the national GT4 and touring car ranks with grit, speed, and the kind of family racing partnership that adds an extra layer of complexity to an already demanding sport.

EARLY YEARS

Here’s what we know about Debard’s background: not much. Her birthdate, birthplace, and the details of her childhood remain frustratingly elusive—a common story for drivers climbing the ladder in national championships where media coverage focuses on lap times, not life stories. What we do know is that she’s French, and that racing runs in the family. Her father, Éric Debard, isn’t just a supportive parent in the paddock; he’s been her co-driver, teammate, and likely one of her earliest influences in the sport. The family connection extends to her racing team as well—Debard Automobiles by Racetivity carries the family name, suggesting this isn’t just a hobby but a family enterprise. Whether she grew up around the workshop, attended races as a child, or came to motorsports later is anyone’s guess. The record simply doesn’t say.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the cockpit, Carla Debard’s interests remain a mystery. No public information exists about hobbies, academic pursuits, creative outlets, or what she does when she’s not at the circuit. It’s the reality for many national-level competitors: the racing speaks, and everything else stays private.

EARLY SUCCESS

Debard started her competitive racing career in the FFSA TC (Tourisme Championship), piloting a BMW M2 CS Racing for Debard Automobiles by Racetivity. By May 2022, she was already on the podium at Magny-Cours during round two of the Championnat de France FFSA Tourisme—a solid early result that demonstrated she had the pace to run at the front[4][5]. The BMW M2 CS Racing is a proper race car, aggressive and unforgiving, and securing a podium in a national touring car championship is no small feat. That same year, she continued in the series, building experience and consistency. By 2023, Debard had progressed to GT4 machinery, moving into the FFSA GT Championship in the AM class with a BMW M4 GT4[1]. The jump from touring cars to GT4 represents a significant step up in terms of car complexity, racing strategy, and competition level. She finished third in the AM class that season, proving she could adapt and compete against more experienced drivers in more sophisticated equipment[1].

One of the more memorable moments from this period came during a race at Magny-Cours, where Debard partnered with her father, Éric. After a free practice accident forced a car change, the duo started dead last. What followed was described as a “magnificent comeback”—they clawed their way through the field to finish fourth in the Am Cup[3]. Racing alongside a parent adds layers of pressure and emotion that most competitors never experience. It’s one thing to disappoint a team manager; it’s another to let down your dad.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022: Podium finish at Magny-Cours in the Championnat de France FFSA Tourisme, driving a BMW M2 CS Racing[4][5].
• 2023: Third place in the AM class of the FFSA GT Championship, piloting a BMW M4 GT4[1].
• 2024: Moved up to the Pro-Am class in the Championnat de France GT4 with co-driver Simon Gachet, finishing fifth overall with 46 points across 10 races and securing two podiums[2].
• 2024: Secured a class podium and first overall podium at the FFSA GT Championship opener at Nogaro[1].
• 2024: Earned five top-10 overall finishes in the FFSA GT Championship, including an additional class podium at Dijon[1].
• 2024: Finished third in the AM class at the Ultimate GT Sprint Cup finale[1].
• 2024: Made her debut in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup toward the end of the season. In Race 1, after spinning on lap four and dropping to 20th, she recovered to finish 17th overall and fifth in class, setting a competitive lap time of 2:34.1[1].
• 2024: In Race 2 of her Porsche debut, started 11th overall and third in class, recovered from an early drop to 14th, then spun at Turn 1 but still finished fifth in class[1].
• 2024: Listed in the FIA Driver Categorisation for France[6].

INSPIRATIONS

No public information is available regarding Debard’s racing heroes, influences, or inspirations—though it’s reasonable to assume her father, Éric, has played a significant role given their on-track partnership.

REPUTATION

Debard has established herself as a “prominent competitor in the FFSA GT Championship over recent years,” according to motorsports coverage[1]. Her reputation is built on consistent performance and steady progression. Moving from touring cars to GT4, then from AM to Pro-Am, and finally making the leap to the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup demonstrates ambition and adaptability. Her Porsche debut was particularly telling—she didn’t have a clean weekend, with spins in both races, but she showed the kind of resilience that matters in racing. After her lap-four spin in Race 1 sent her tumbling down the order, she didn’t pack it in; she fought back, overtaking competitors like Arraou and Marchisio to salvage a fifth-place class finish[1]. That kind of racecraft—recovering from mistakes rather than being derailed by them—earns respect in the paddock. Her partnerships, both with her father and with co-driver Simon Gachet, suggest she’s someone who can work effectively in a team environment, which is critical in GT racing where strategy and communication can make or break a result. The fact that she’s been able to secure podiums and top-10 finishes in a competitive national championship, often against more experienced drivers, speaks to her raw speed and racecraft.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of late 2024, Debard was still actively competing and listed on the FIA Driver Categorisation for France[6]. Her trajectory suggests a driver building toward bigger opportunities, but specific plans for 2025 and beyond haven’t been publicly disclosed. Whether she continues in GT4, commits fully to the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, or makes another leap remains to be seen. What’s clear is that she’s not standing still—her progression from touring cars to GT4 to the Porsche Cup in just a few years shows a driver determined to keep climbing.

References:

[1] Carla Debard Takes Class Podium in Ultimate Cup
[2] Carla Debard – DriverDB
[3] Saturday Evening Suspense for FFSA GT GT4 France
[4] BMW M Motorsport News
[5] Alamy Stock Photo – Championnat de France FFSA Tourisme 2022
[6] FIA Driver Categorisation 2024 List