The Super Sebring event, to be held in just under a fortnight’s time at the legendary Floridian race track, will be the biggest challenge the Iron Dames have ever faced, driver Michelle Gatting told MotorsportWeek.com.
The week will comprise of the 1000 Miles of Sebring, the opening round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship, on Friday 17th March, followed by the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the next day. The Iron Dames crew will be racing in both events, one year after racing at Sebring for the first time in the 2022 WEC season.
“[Super Sebring] will without doubt be the biggest challenge that we as Iron Dames has ever faced,” she said, “but I’m happy and confident together with Sarah, Rahel and the rest of the team that we will manage to do well and support each other. In the end what matters for us is to have a good result in both championships,” the Dane added.
The trio, comprised of Gatting, Sarah Bovy, and Rahal Frey, will be racing the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 in IMSA, and the Porsche 911 RSR-19 in the WEC race.
This means they will be continually switching between two cars all week, with only short gaps between free practice sessions for the respective championships — not to mention two endurance races in two days.
“Since the Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 are fundamentally two different cars, it will not be easy to participate in FIA WEC and in IMSA at the same time on the same weekend,” said Frey.
She continued, “It’s difficult to say how quickly we can adapt to the cars as different driving styles are needed. We will also reach our physical limits because there are hardly any breaks. All what comes afterwards in the season will only be easier as we continue to learn and grow.”
Furthermore, the two cars aren’t even the same class — the Porsche runs to the GTE ruleset in WEC, while IMSA runs GT3-regulation cars in its GTD class.
“I believe SuperSebring will be one of the most demanding race weeks of my career to date,” Bovy said.
“Jumping out of the FIA WEC Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE car and diving into our IMSA Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 during all of the sessions, as well as working with two different teams of engineers and mechanics will be a big challenge.
“Especially having an 8H FIA WEC race on the Friday before tackling the 12H IMSA race on the Saturday with only a short night’s sleep – it is going to be exhausting,” she added.
As you’d expect, though, all three are excited about the prospect and confident in not just their own abilities, but each others’ too.
“But I know we will have great support from our team, I know together with Rahel and Michelle we will be focused and efficient,” Bovy concluded.
“We have what it takes to come out of that challenging week with a smile on our face. Truth is, I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m super excited!”
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