Pink is parked: Why the Iron Dames debuted a new white livery for Le Mans

As the Iron Dames arrive at Le Mans with a predominantly white Porsche 911, Michelle Gatting hopes that the change of livery will result in less prejudice on track

For the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Iron Dames are arriving with a special livery that breaks with tradition: the iconic pink has been swapped for white. The No. 95 Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey, and Célia Martin will take on the Circuit de la Sarthe dressed in a fully white livery, with only the rear wing retaining the team’s trademark pink as a nod to the all-female crew.

This one-off livery, created exclusively for Le Mans, does more than disrupt visual codes: it carries a powerful message. Carefully chosen words like passion, commitment, determination, discipline, and energy are featured on the car’s bodywork — all values that have defined the Iron Dames project since its inception.

"Yes, there’s less pink, but we have pink all year long, and for Le Mans, we always change things a bit," said Frey enthusiastically. "But this time, it’s really about the words. We want to share strong messages and highlight powerful keywords like passion and commitment, everything it takes to survive as women in this sport."

Is having less pink actually an advantage?

#85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: Célia Martin, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting

Photo by: Andreas Beil

Still, the disappearance of the iconic pink Iron Dames livery — seen since their debut at Le Mans in 2019 and in WEC since 2021 — has saddened some fans... but it seems to delight Michelle Gatting.

"I’m happy there’s less pink," she stated candidly. "Because for me… you know, pink means Iron Dames… and it’s still there, it’s everywhere. We have pink shoes… It’s not like there’s no pink at all, but I think it’s cool to do something different. It’s a special livery, a one-off for Le Mans. I think it’s great that we’re trying something a little less pink."

#85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3: CŽlia Martin, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The Danish driver also admitted that a more neutral look could actually be an advantage on track. The bright pink Porsche - one of the most recognizable cars on the grid - doesn’t just attract attention, it also sometimes brings bias. She explained that some drivers make their lives harder on track, unable to see past the stereotypes that come with an all-female team.

"I also think it’s good for our competitors — they don’t just see pink," said Gatting, before elaborating.

"Because for some drivers, something happens in their heads when they see a pink car. And that can make our lives harder. You know: ‘Oh, it’s a pink car, the Iron Dames are behind,’ and that can complicate things a bit during a race.”

"In the end, drivers know who they’re racing against. I know when there’s a yellow car behind me, it’s the Corvette. They know when there’s a pink car in their mirrors, it’s the Iron Dames, and that it’s a woman driving. Yes, people know that, and they respect it - but there are still some who struggle with it. And there are drivers who really make things more difficult for us. So I think having a car that’s a bit less pink might actually help."