curated by GRRL! updated: January 28, 2026

Bio Excerpt: Deborah Mayer carved out her racing career while simultaneously revolutionizing opportunities for women in motorsport. The French businesswoman-turned-GT3-racer began competing in 2016, claiming victory in the Ferrari Challenge Ladies’ Cup at Monza in a 458 Challenge Evo. She progressed through endurance racing in the Le Mans... (full bio below ↓↓)

Deborah Mayer

WoMo racer

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Deborah's Socials:

I am deeply grateful, honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ award. It’s a moving moment, and beyond my person, a significant moment for the place of women in motorsport. This recognition is the fruit of the passion, hard work and determination of our drivers, Rahel, Sarah and Michelle here today, and of all our teams, and I am infinitely grateful to them[3].

We must all continue to push for a future where every talent, regardless of gender, regardless of professional field, has the opportunity to realise their dreams. This is the purpose of the “Every Dream Matters” project. Every dream counts and everyone deserves the opportunity to make it come true[3].

Being an Iron Dame is an attitude that should inspire every generation and every professional field where women are present and can excel at the highest level. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, with no insurmountable barriers[3].

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Deborah's Details:

nickname:

Deborah Renee

Birthday:

August 10, 1977 (48)

Birthplace:

Paris, France

racing type:

WoMo racing

series:

team(s):

racing status:

height:

168cm

residence:

Paris, France

inspiration(s):

No names of specific people who inspired Deborah Mayer are mentioned in the available information.

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GRRL! Number:

GRRL-0535

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LATEST Deborah NEWS:

(6) news stories

IRON DAMES Exit WEC After Historic 2023 Bahrain Win & 5 Years Reshaping Racing

November 27, 2025

ALEXANDRA VATEVA Joins Iron Dames as Fourth ‘Supported’ Driver

May 27, 2025

Iron Dames & TotalEnergies Unite for ‘Powering Your Dreams’ Le Mans Partnership

May 7, 2025

MICHELLE GATTING Recalls Tears of Joy at Le Mans Debut as Iron Dames Evolve

March 13, 2025

Iron Dames Inks WePlay Deal to Amplify Historic Championship Success

February 27, 2025

SARAH RUMEAU & JULIE AMBLARD Launch Iron Dames Rally Era at Touquet March 14-16

January 15, 2024

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YouTube VIDS about Deborah:

IRON DAMES • RACING BEYOND LIMITS EP01 • Le Castellet • The Kick-off

December 23, 2020 / views: 362643 / run: 00:17:16

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Deborah's full bio:

(last updated 2026-01-26

French businesswoman and GT3 racer Deborah Mayer didn’t just compete in a male-dominated sport—she built a movement, creating the Iron Dames to prove that women belong at every level of motorsport.

EARLY YEARS

Born in Paris, France, Mayer grew up as an all-around sportswoman with a competitive streak that would define her future. She studied finance and management in France before building a career in the investment and private banking sector that spanned many years. But even as she climbed the corporate ladder, something else was calling her attention—cars. The moment she turned 18, she got her driver’s license, and what started as a fascination quickly became an obsession. It wasn’t long before the track became her second office.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the cockpit, Mayer’s passion for competition extends to the equestrian world. In fact, she sees striking parallels between racing and show jumping—both require precision, partnership, and nerves of steel. Under the Iron Dames banner, she expanded her vision beyond motorsport to include equestrian athletes, supporting women in another traditionally male-dominated arena. The approach, she insists, is the same: excellence, determination, and breaking barriers. Her relationship with her partner, Claudio Schiavoni, was forged through their shared love of speed—they met through work, and she quickly realized he was just as car-crazy as she was. Together, they’ve built both a family and a racing empire.

EARLY SUCCESS

Mayer began racing GT3 cars competitively, cutting her teeth in Ferrari machinery. In 2016, she competed in the Ferrari Challenge at Monza, claiming victory in the newly created Ladies’ Cup while driving a Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo for Scuderia Niki Hasler. She continued racing in the Le Mans Cup in 2017 with Kessel Racing in a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, gaining valuable endurance racing experience. By 2020, she was back on the grid in the Michelin Le Mans Cup GT3 class with Iron Lynx, piloting a Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo alongside co-driver Claudio Schiavoni. Though her racing results were respectable rather than dominant—finishing races in the mid-pack—what she was building off-track would prove far more groundbreaking.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

2016: Won the Ladies’ Cup in Ferrari Challenge at Monza.
2018: Founded the Iron Dames project to support and promote women in motorsport, beginning with five female drivers.
2019: Officially launched the Iron Dames racing team, which made its competitive debut at the 12 Hours of Dubai.
2020: Competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup GT3 class with Iron Lynx.
2022–2024: Served as President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, undertaking global initiatives to raise awareness and inspire the next generation.
2024: Awarded the Spirit of Le Mans Trophy by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest for her contributions to gender equality in motorsport.
2024: Iron Dames achieved their best result at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing fourth in class.
2024: Iron Dames secured their first victory of the season at the 4 Hours of Imola in the European Le Mans Series.

INSPIRATIONS

Mayer has been candid about the lack of female role models when she was coming up. “Twenty years ago, we did not have the role models,” she’s said, pointing to rally legend Michèle Mouton as one of the few visible women in the sport. That absence became her motivation. She was surrounded by people who gave her a helping hand throughout her career, and now she’s determined to give back and foster the next generation. The Iron Dames project was born out of that commitment—rooted in her personal experience and a desire to create a framework of excellence for women in settings where they’ve historically been excluded. “Everyone can be an Iron Dame,” she’s said, emphasizing that the spirit isn’t about gender; it’s about passion, dreams, and the willingness to go beyond barriers.

REPUTATION

Mayer is widely regarded as a visionary in women’s motorsport, known less for her individual race results and more for the empire she’s built. As a Ferrari ambassador and the architect of the Iron Dames, she’s created one of the most recognizable all-female racing initiatives in the world. What started with five drivers in 2018 has grown to support over 30 women across motorsport and equestrian disciplines. Her leadership style is long-term and methodical—she’s not chasing quick wins but building sustainable pathways for women to compete at the highest levels. Her appointment as President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission cemented her status as a global leader in the fight for inclusion. Described as a “lighthouse” for women in racing, Mayer’s influence extends far beyond the paddock. She races to inspire, and that philosophy has made her a powerful force for change in a sport that desperately needed it.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Looking ahead to 2025, the Iron Dames will continue competing in top-tier endurance racing series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series. The team is set to open the WEC season at the Qatar 1812km on February 28 at Lusail, followed by the 6 Hours of Imola on April 20. They’ll also return to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, aiming to build on their best-ever fourth-place class finish. While motherhood temporarily sidelined Mayer from racing, she’s already set her sights on returning to the track. Her mission remains clear: continue building the Iron Dames into a championship-contending team while expanding opportunities for women across all levels of motorsport. This is a long-term project, and she’s just getting started.