IRON DAMES Complete Historic Sweep as Women Score 8 Wins Across ACO Racing

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GRRL! musings…

What is inspiring yet sad at the same time? This answer to the motorsport quiz dailysportscar.com to the question: Until Silverstone 2025, COOL Racing/CLX Motorsport held a unique record in ACO rules racing. Which team equalled it, and how?

Inspiring because the Dames were quietly an incredibly accomplished collection of powerhouse racing, showing women competing and winning at the highest levels of motorsport. Sad because their lack of reach outside the bubble of endurance racing left them without the funding to continue – for now we pray.

January 11, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

IRON DAMES made history by becoming only the second team to complete a full championship sweep across all ACO-sanctioned series, matching COOL Racing/CLX Motorsport’s unique record with wins in FIA WEC, ELMS, Le Mans Cup and Ligier European Series – proving their all-female program isn’t just a feel-good story, it’s a winning formula.
Women drivers dominated ACO competition with 8 race wins from 11 drivers across multiple series. JAMIE CHADWICK scored 3 ELMS LMP2 victories while IRON DAMES trio CELIA MARTIN, SARAH BOVY and MICHELLE GATTING claimed ELMS LMGT3 glory, with LILOU WADOUX, LENA BUHLER and VANINA ICKX adding Le Mans Cup wins.
Since the IRON DAMES program launched, an impressive 12 female drivers have started races under the banner across WEC, ELMS, IMSA and Le Mans Cup – from Katherine Legge to Rahel Frey to the current lineup, building a legacy that’s rewriting what’s possible for women in endurance racing.