A 100% female crew for Kessel Racing

After the Ligier JS P3 entered in the 4h of Sepang (Malaysia) this weekend for the Asian final Le Mans Series, it's Kessel Racing's turn to field a 100% female crew. Her Ferrari 488 GTE registered in ELMS will be entrusted to the hands of the Italian Manuela Gostner, the Swiss Rahely Frey and the Dane Michelle Gatting.

The trio know each other well having already taken 6th place during the Gulf 12h of Abu Dhabi, 2nd in the GT3 Pro/Am category, at the wheel of a GT3 version of the team's Ferrari.

Manuela Gostner played for several seasons in the Ferrari Challenge Coppa world championship before competing in the European GT4 in a Maserati Gran Turismo from the Villorba Corse team. The Italian joined Kessel Racing last year in the Michel Le Mans Cup where she competed alongside Giorgio Sernagiotto.

Rahel Frey is an official Audi driver and has made a name for herself in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 in DTM and in ADAC GT Masters. She was also part of the last female crew seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, starting the 2010 edition with Natacha Gachnang and Cyndie Allemann in a Matech Competition Ford GT1 (retirement). Michellle Gatting, the youngest of the crew, mainly evolved in Denmark, participating in Formula Ford and Supertouring.

“We are proud to welcome Manuela, Rahel and Michelle to the ELMS paddock, comments Gérard Neveu, the general director of the ELMS. With the help of the FIA ​​and the ACO we support them in their ambition to reach the top of the pyramid.Endurance by participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The ELMS has always encouraged women wishing to take part in our sport, whether as team manager, engineer, mechanic or driver. We hope that this 100% female crew will be a source of inspiration for the future generation of pilots. »

Kessel Racing is also considering participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an initiative supported by the Women in Motorsport Commission.

“After a very good result at the Gulf 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi last year, Manuela, Rahel and Michele have the opportunity to participate in the 2019 ELMS season, adds Michèle Mouton, president of the Commission for Women in Motorsport. The fact that this chance is offered to them by Kessel Racing, which fields high-performance cars, shows that female drivers have a place on the grid, that they can fight with the best and achieve excellent results. A big thank you to Kessel Racing, the ELMS and the ACO for their support. We will of course follow the evolution of this crew with great interest. »