Strong speed in Portimão not rewarded
The Iron Dames in the Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by Proton Huber Competition showed strong speed at the Michelin Le Mans Cup in Portimão (16th to 18th October), but due to a penalty, they were unable to convert this into a top-three result. The team thus ends its GT3 season.
The 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup season came to an end in Portimão, Portugal. Proton Huber Competition fielded a Porsche 911 GT3 R for the Iron Dames, which was driven by former F1 Academy champion Marta Garcia and former DTM driver Vanina Ickx.
In qualifying, Belgian driver Ickx secured a strong third place on the grid on the rollercoaster track. She was also able to show off her experience in the early stages of the race. With a lightning start, she stormed to the front of the GT3 class in the white and pink Porsche. She defended her lead throughout the first half of the race.
In the second half of the race, 25-year-old Spaniard Garcia extended her lead. But shortly before the end, the fast driver from near Valencia had to serve a drive-through penalty for running a red light at the end of the pit lane during her pit stop. In the remaining laps, Garcia fought her way back up to the two drivers ahead of her, but narrowly missed the podium and finished the race in fifth place.
“We were in the lead. Vanina did a great job at the start and we were leading the race. But a safety car at the worst possible moment changed everything. We pitted one lap later than most of the GT3s, and just as I was about to leave the pits, the pit lane light turned red. And I didn’t see it. Nevertheless, I continued driving and led the race for more than half an hour, with the best pace, the fastest lap, everything was perfect. Then came the drive-through penalty, which cost us around 45 seconds. I finished the race in fifth place with a strong pace. Sometimes you lose because circumstances get in your way. And that hurts. But it also reminds you why you fight,” said a frustrated 25-year-old Garcia after the race.
Garcia and Ickx finished the season in fourth place in the championship, despite not being able to take part in both races at Le Mans. The highlight of the season was the victory at Silverstone.
This marked the end of the GT3 season for Proton Huber Competition, during which the team repeatedly proved that it can compete with the established top teams in international GT racing. In addition to its strong performances in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, the Bavarian team was also successful in endurance racing. In the 24H Series European Series, the team from Hofkirchen won the GT3 classification and celebrated overall victory at the 12h Le Castellet.
Free for editorial use.
Copyright: Iron Dames & Michelin Le Mans Cup / FocusPackMedia
