MICHELLE GATTING’s Heroic Comeback Earns Goodyear Award Despite Iron Dames Drop

July 7, 2025

by RACERS // from www.racers-behindthehelmet.com

• MICHELLE GATTING delivered a masterclass in resilience at Imola, returning from a broken foot suffered just two weeks prior to earn the Goodyear Wingfoot Award for most valuable LMGT3 driver. Despite still being on crutches, she closed a 26-second gap in the final stint and set the team’s fastest lap time of 1:44.3, proving that determination trumps adversity every time.
• CÉLIA MARTIN showed her qualifying prowess by securing P3 on the grid and leading the LMGT3 class mid-race after recovering from an early collision caused by Riccardo Agostini. Her aggressive pace and clean overtaking at Tosa demonstrated exactly why Bronze-rated drivers deserve more recognition—until changeable weather conditions sent her spinning into the gravel while leading.
• SARAH BOVY stepped into challenging conditions during the middle stint, inheriting a car already two laps down but still managing to set competitive lap times including the team’s initial fastest lap of 1:45.547. The team’s tire strategy gamble on wet weather didn’t pay off, but her performance under pressure kept Iron Dames in contention for points.
• The championship battle remains tight as Iron Dames drops to third in LMGT3 standings with 33 points, but this weekend proved their fighting spirit remains intact. With three ELMS rounds remaining and Spa-Francorchamps next on August 23-24, we’ve seen what this all-female squad can accomplish when the racing gods aren’t throwing every obstacle in their path.

autodromo enzo e dino ferrari, european le mans series, lmgt3, porsche