Iron Dames announced the addition of Vanina Ickx for its GT program, as well as French F4 racer Lisa Billard and Spanish karter Angelina Simons Torres.
All-female team Iron Dames announced the addition of three more drivers to its roster, as Vanina Ickx, Lisa Billard and Angelina Simons Torres are set to race in 2025 in the iconic magenta colours.
Bronze-rated Vanina Ickx, 49, is the latest high profile name to join the team founded by Deborah Mayer, as the Belgian racer – daughter of of F1 and Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx – joins the GT program, returning to international competitions after an impressive career in the sport in the early 2000s.
"I like to go where I don't expect, to reach my unreachable and to find out what I'm made of", Ickx commented from the Iron Dames training camp in St. Moritz, Switzerland. "This year, I'll be made of iron! This new challenge made real by Deborah Mayer, is a gift from heaven, even if it won't be easy to put on the helmet again at almost 50 years of age."
"I'm very curious to discover racing from this new angle, and enthusiastic about sharing my experience with younger Dames. With passion and determination, ladies, anything is possible! Don’t give up!"
Her racing program will be announced in due course. Vanina's racing career began in 1996 and went on to participate in seven editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 2001 to 2011. Five of them were in the LMP1 – and the Belgian continues to be the latest woman to have raced in Le Mans' top class, with a best finish of seventh overall in 2011.
Ickx also collected two Le Mans Series podiums, a victory in the Spa 12 Hours in 2008 and was Audi factory driver in DTM from 2006 to 2007.
“We are happy to welcome Vanina Ickx into the Iron Dames family, she will bring legacy, passion and expertise to the team but also serve as an inspiration to every woman striving to make their mark in motorsport", Deborah Mayer added. "Meanwhile, nurturing young talent is central to the Iron Dames project and to our mission. With Lisa and Angelina joining Iron Dames Young Talents, we are not only building a strong foundation for the future but also fostering an environment where mentorship and growth thrive."
Joining Iron Dames will in fact also be young Frenchwoman Lisa Billard, who made her single seater debut in 2024 in the French Formula 4 championship, and young karter Angelina Simons Torres, who was among the protagonists of the new Champions Of The Future Academy Programme, with support from F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive initiative.
"I'm so happy and excited to be part of this big family", said Billard, 15. "I can't wait to create memories and share unforgettable moments with all these amazing women. I'm delighted to be joining the Iron Dames and to be able to continue my career, which I started at the age of 7 with karting, to become a professional driver and to show that women are capable of great things in the world of motorsport."
Billard was one of the finalists of the FIA's Girls On Track – Rising Stars programme in the junior category and became the first female to win a French Junior Karting Championship race. In 2023 she entered Alpine's RacHer programme and continued in karting, achieving third in the French Junior Karting Championship. In 2024 she made her Formula 4 debut in the French series once turning 15 at Magny Cours, and contested the final three rounds making steady progress. Her personal best was a 16th place on her debut, with four top-20 finishes to her name.
Under the banner of Iron Dames, Billard will return to the French Formula 4 championship, aiming for top five finishes.
Spaniard Angelina Simons Torres, also 15, started karting at seven and was runner up in the Canary Islands regional championship before moving up to international karting competitions. She was Junior Vice-Champion in Spain, and was then one of the OK-N Junior class representatives for F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive in COTFA in 2024, where she finished 11th in the standings, with a fourth place as best result in Valencia.
"I am very happy to join the Iron Dames and grateful for this opportunity", Angelina stated. "It's been a long-awaited dream and now it's coming true. I think there comes a time when you meet a project like Iron Dames and you just want to be strong, follow the path of the more experienced drivers and make them smile."
Simons Torres earned her spot in a karting selection at Franciacorta and now joins Luna Fluxà, Vicky Farfus, and Mia Oger in Iron Dames' karting squad.
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