Marta García teams up with Vanina Ickx for Michelin Le Mans Cup campaign

Marta García will make her full-time sports car racing debut in the 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup with Iron Dames, piloting a Porsche 911 GT3 R for her GT3 debut alongside experienced bronze-rated Vanina Ickx.

Photo credits: Iron Dames

Marta García announced her first full-time sports car campaign as the 24-year-old Spaniard is set to take on the 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup, piloting a Porsche 911 GT3 R operated by Proton Huber Competition. In a new Iron Dames line up, García will team up with Belgian Vanina Ickx , who returns to international competitions after over a decade.

The inaugural F1 Academy champion stepped up to Formula Regional European Championship as part of her F1 Academy prize in 2024 and, having joined the groundbreaking all-female team Iron Dames, she was given the opportunity to make her sports car racing debut with two rounds in the Ligier European Series. García immediately impressed with an outstanding debut, claiming her first win on her second start at Spa Francorchamps - and returned to the top step of the podium in Portimao.

The Spaniard's remarkable speed in her first GT races paved the way for her first full season as part of a Iron Dames GT3 squad; Marta is now set to compete in the 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup, in support of the European Le Mans Series, for her first GT3 season.

"I’m extremely happy to announce that I’m going to be competing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup in the Porsche GT3, and it's all the more special knowing I'll be racing alongside Vanina", García said. "This is a big step in my career and a new chapter that fills me with motivation and excitement. I want to thank Iron Dames for the opportunity and we will work as hard as we can to achieve strong results."

García had previously contested the ELMS rookie test in Portimao, in her first GT3 outing onboard the Porsche 911 GT3 R. She will now have the chance to collect crucial experience in her rookie season, alongside experienced bronze-rated driver Vanina Ickx, who joined the Iron Dames driver stable earlier this month.

Ickx, 49, brings a wealth of experience that includes seven editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2001 and 2011, and is currently the last woman to have raced in Le Mans' top class, with a best finish of seventh overall in 2011. Daughter of F1 legend Jackie Ickx, Vanina had an impressive racing career in the early 2000s, with 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.

"Never say never! I thought I’d retired for good, but here I am", Ickx said. "The opportunity to join the Iron Dames and participate in a championship as competitive as the Michelin Le Mans Cup was simply too good to miss."

"A great programme of six thrilling races on some of the world’s most iconic circuits awaits Marta and I. I’ve had to get back into gear to keep up with my talented team-mate and the whole Iron Dames team. Together, we’ll strive to carry the Iron Dames flag high and continue inspiring others."

Iron Dames return to Michelin Le Mans Cup - an important springboard for up-and-coming sports car talents moving up the endurance ladder - after Karen Gaillard and Célia Martin's debut in GT3 machinery in 2024. With a pole position and a podium to their name, both drivers have now made appearances with the main Iron Dames line up - with Martin becoming the new full-time bronze driver in FIA WEC, European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series, while Gaillard contested the 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Frey, Bovy and Gatting. The young Swiss driver will race full time in the French Porsche Carrera Cup.

García and Ickx will start their Le Mans Cup campaign in April, with the season opener at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, before the second round at Le Castellet. on June12th the Road To Le Mans flagship event will see the drivers racing at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, before other iconic race tracks such as Spa Francorchamps, Silverstone and Portimao will host the final three race meetings.

2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup Calendar

R1: Barcelona, Spain / 5 April

R2: Le Castellet, France / 3 May

R3: Le Mans, France / 12 June

R4: Spa Francorchamps, Belgium / 23 August

R5: Silverstone, UK / 13 September

R6: Portimao, Portugal / 18 October