Célia Martin joins Iron Dames main line up as bronze driver

Célia Martin has joined the Iron Dames main lineup as the bronze-rated driver after a successful rookie GT3 season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, following the recategorization of Sarah Bovy, who will continue with Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting in Iron Dames colours.

Célia Martin has been announced as the new bronze-rated driver for the main Iron Dames line up, following the FIA recategorization of Sarah Bovy to Silver status.

Martin has joined the Iron Dames project in 2024, stepping up from GT4 to GT3 in the competitive Michelin Le Mans Cup series, where she partnered Karen Gaillard at the wheel of the #83 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2. The duo finished sixth in the championship standings, with a podium and two top five finishes to their name, in what has been their rookie year in GT3 competitions. As the bronze driver, Martin also contested the qualifying sessions, securing one pole position.

The 32 year old started her motor racing career in 2017, when she moved to Germany to pursue a professional career. A Nordschleife specialist, Martin became the first Frenchwoman to race at the track, and she mainly competed in the NLS series until 2019, where she made a full-time appearance in the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy. In the all-electric series, she was fourth in ProAm with five podiums and one fastest lap to her name.

As part of the Girls Only by WS Racing squad, she then took pole position and class victory in 2021 at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, then added another podium the following year in the same class. Having collected experience in GT4 machinery at the Nürburgring, Martin switched to the ADAC GT4 in 2023.

In the highly competitive German series, Célia contested her first full-time campaign in a sprint race format, before graduating to GT3 in 2024 with Iron Dames.

As the new bronze-rated driver, Célia joins Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting in the main line up, with individual programs yet to be announced.

Sarah Bovy is therefore set to continue in the main line-up in a Silver role, continuing to contribute to the team at the highest level of endurance racing in Iron Dames colours.

The Belgian has established herself as one of the fastest bronze drivers in the world over the last few years, collecting 13 pole positions over the entered series - seven of which in FIA WEC - as well as a fastest lap in World Endurance Championship.

With her progression over the seasons, the FIA had announced a reclassification to Silver status from 2025.