The all-female crew in the no83 Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 are all set for a titanic battle against some of the best teams and drivers in endurance racing on six of the most challenging circuits Europe has to offer.
Bronze rated Celia Martin, who is originally from Bordeaux but now lives in Germany, will be sharing the driving duties with silver rated Swiss driver Karen Gaillard this season, with both making their Michelin Le Mans Cup debuts in Barcelona next month.
So why did they choose the Michelin Le Mans Cup? “I have the huge opportunity to join the Iron Dames programme,” said Karen Gaillard. “They have already competed in the MLMC and have proposed to me this programme for 2024, which I think is perfect for my GT3 debut and to gain experience for the rest of my career.”
Celia Martin added, “Having been in GT4 cars for the last 3 years and competed in my first national GT4 championship last year with GT4 Germany, the MLMC is a perfect next step for me moving up to a European level championship as well as GT3 machinery. Both steps were my goal for the future so with the MLMC and Iron Dames I am combining both those goals, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Karen arrives in the MLMC as the reigning Ultimate Cup Endurance Series Vice Champion, so how does she see that experience helping her race in the Michelin Le Mans Cup? “Firstly, the category is new to me. I have never done GT3 before. Secondly, I think the whole world I am going to be in will be very different from what I have experienced so far. I mean, there will be drivers and teams that are very experienced and race at the highest level, like the team I am part of, but this is a first for me! And we are on the same weekends as the ELMS, which is really great!”
Celia also has done well in her racing career so far, most notably victory in the SP8 class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2021. “The Nürburgring 24hrs is, for sure, one of the hardest endurance races in the world so I feel really privileged to have done it 4 times now,” she said. “A normal stint in that race can be 1h50m and of course there are the double night stint, so for sure the duration isn’t an issue.
“The racing and mindset will be different - somewhere between the 1hr races from GT4 Germany and full endurance racing. 1h50m feels like a sweet spot to make it always exciting and to transition from a more aggressive sprint race mindset to an endurance one, knowing there is plenty of time for anything to happen.”
What’s it going to be like racing for Iron Dames, a team that has a great reputation for finding and supporting the best female drivers? “Sometimes in life you need a bit of luck. Luck that you have to manage to provoke so that all the planets align,” Karen admitted. “My good results last season with DIMAB Motorsport were undoubtedly one of the triggers. Then Rahel Frey proposed me a test at the end of last year, my first in a GT3! The adaptation went well and here is how I got involved in the Iron Dames project.
“For me, the target of this season is to gain as much experience as possible for the future and to learn how to drive a GT3, which is something new for me. Without forgetting to always enjoy!”
It was a similar story for Celia. “First of all, I am so proud to be part of the Iron Dames family,” she said. “Indeed, they have a great reputation and very clear idea of which type of racing driver they want to support - which is for me the key to their success.
“I first spoke with Rahel (Frey) about the Iron Dames about 3 years ago and at the time she advised me to get more experience in GT’s - so this is what I did. I then spoke with her again at the end of last year and they accepted to let me do a test with them.
“The goal for the first season in the MLMC with Iron Dames is to create a solid foundation in GT3 and learn all the new tracks, so very much creating something to build from for the future.”
The two drivers didn’t really know each other prior to joining Iron Dames and have only had a few days together since joining the team.“We have only seen each other for a few days since the winter,” Karen said, “but we already get on very well! I am very happy to be doing this season with Celia and I can't wait to get to know her better.”
So, what about the Lamborghini Huracan, the car they will race this season? “Where to start! I mean GT3 is completely new for me,” Celia Martin said. “The downforce and the braking performance take some time getting used to vs a GT4 car. The Lamborghini is mid-engined so its balance reminds me a bit of the Audi GT4 and the class win at 24hr Nürburgring, just the added downforce of a GT3 car makes it much better. I really enjoy it already - it’s a sexy car and the sound is just amazing.”
With six top class circuits on the MLMC calendar in 2024, which of the six have the drivers raced on previously and which one is their favourite? “I already know Barcelona and Le Castellet,” Karen said. “I have been to Mugello once, but that was when I made my debut a few years ago. I am really looking forward to discovering the Le Mans circuit of course! And I really like hilly circuits, so I think I am going to like Portimão a lot!”
“I have tested at Paul Ricard and driven Spa but never raced there, so in terms of racing they will all be new,” Celia said. “Currently I would say Spa is my favourite, but I would like to wait to race them all to give a definitive answer.
“Le Mans will for sure be special - I mean it’s Le Mans and I am French.Portimão is on my bucket list - it looks like a mini Nordschleife and I heard good things about it so I hope some of my experience of a track with large undulations and blind corners pays off there.”
What can Karen Guillard tell us about herself? “Motorsport is my passion, so I spend most of my time on it! I am someone who always needs to be active, so whenever I have a bit of time I like to do sport, all kinds of sport. I particularly like being out in nature, like ski touring for example. I also have a formation in the health sector, and I really enjoy my work, especially in the emergency sector. I think I always need a bit of adrenaline in my life when I am not racing!”
“I grew up in Bordeaux in France and finished university with a Masters in Law and Private Wealth Management,” said Celia Martin when asked the same question. “I always wanted to race, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I decided to go all in, moved to the Nürburgring and started racing. It was a huge gamble, but I always believed it possible.
“When I am not racing, I like to hang out with my friends, go to the gym, mountain biking, cooking and play any kind of games. I am also working as an instructor and test prototype cars for manufacturers at various proving grounds including the Nordschleife and sometimes you can also see me in the F1 Paddock Club.”
The no83 Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan will be part of a 13 car GT3 grid for the opening round in Barcelona, which will take place on Saturday 13 April.
