Pit stop accident forces Michelle Gatting to miss Le Mans 24 Hours

Michelle Gatting from Iron Dames team has been forced to withdraw from Le Mans 24 Hours following an unexpected pit lane incident that resulted in a broken foot.

The incident occurred during a routine driver change that turned disastrous due to congested pit lane after a red flag. Sarah Bovy — a Silver-rated driver who previously stepped away from World Endurance Championship this season — has been appointed as Gatting’s replacement.

“When I went out of the car, I saw Rahel wasn’t next to me for the driver change. As I looked for her, the team dropped the car and it landed on my foot. It was pure bad luck, nobody to blame,” explained Gatting.

The serious injury resulted in Gatting’s foot being broken in three places. Despite attempting to convince the team she could still race, safety remained the priority — leading Bovy to join Rahel Frey and Celia Martin behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Gatting aims to return to action at the ELMS round in Imola on July 6. Currently, Iron Dames leads the LMGT3 ELMS standings and remains determined to maintain that position.