9 Women to Watch at 24 Hours of Daytona

It’s 2024, a new year for racing, and one of the biggest events of the year is just beginning, the 24 Hours of Daytona! 

The 24 Hours of Daytona (also known as the Rolex 24 at Daytona) first started in 1962 is an endurance race, lasting 24 hours at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, Florida. The event is one of the most iconic on the motorsports calendar and also serves as the first race of the International Motorsports Association SportsCar Championship. 

The infamous event takes place every year, over the final two weekends of January, with the first weekend dedicated to practice sessions and qualifying. In the final weekend of January, all teams take to the circuit in their chance to win the prestigious event. 

24 Hours of Daytona brings together drivers from all over the world, across multiple championships, including both male and female drivers. 

In 2023, four teams had seven female drivers behind the wheel: Iron Dames (Michelle Gatting, Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, and Doriane Pin), Gradient Racing (Katherine Legge, and Sheena Monk), and Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR (Ashton Harrison). 

This year, we will see nine women competing across four teams who will each be looking for their chance to make history.

We’ve summarised everything you need to know about these incredible women in motorsport and who they’re driving for, during this year’s event. 

Iron Dames (Michelle Gatting, Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, and Doriane Pin)

Fresh from their P2 in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Iron Dames will be back in Daytona and will be the only all-female team on the grid. 

The 2023 line up remains unchanged and they’ll be behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2. 

2023 was a landmark year for Iron Dames as not only did they reach second in the FIA WEC Championship, they placed P46 during their Daytona debut. And, they’ll be looking to climb further up the standings this year.

Outside of the 24 Hours of Daytona, Iron Dames have an exciting year ahead and will compete across numerous championships including the European Le Mans Series, which starts in Barcelona on April 14. 

Gradient Racing (Katherine Legge, Sheena Monk, and Tatiana Calderon)

The team will be back in the Acura NSX GT3 and we’ll see three women behind the wheel: Katherine Legge, Sheena Monk, and Tatiana Calderon. 

Last year, team mates Katherine and Sheena achieved an impressive P22 during the 24 Hours of Daytona and this year, the women will be back together to build on the momentum they started.  

They will be joined by Colombian driver, Tatiana Calderon. Tatiana has joined the Gradient Racing team and will be part of the team's line-up for the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Alongside this, Tatiana will be competing in the five Michelin Endurance Cup events across 2024. 

AF Corse (Lilou Wadoux)

The 2024 event will mark Lilou’s first time at 24 Hours in Daytona and she’ll make her debut in a Oreca 07-Gibson with AF Corse. It’s been an incredible time for the French driver as she became the first female Ferrari Competizioni GT driver and made her debut at Sebring in March 2023. 

Lilou joined the AF Corse team last year and went on to compete in four different championships with the team across the year including the FIA WEC LMGTE Am (team - Richard Mille AF Corse), and the IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2. 

Despite being just 21-years-old, Lilou has shown impressive potential during the first months of her professional career and became the first woman to win a FIA WEC race when her team took first place at the 2023 6 Hours in Spa.  

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (Ashton Harrison) 

Ashton will return to the 24 Hours of Daytona for the second time this year, and will be competing in a Lamborghini Haracan GT3 Evo2 for Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti. 

Despite making her Daytona debut in 2023, Ashon impressed and secured P38 with her team. 

Ashton is no stranger to endurance racing and has competed in numerous championships including  Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirellie, and the Fanatec GT World Challenge America presented by AWS - Pro Cup where she placed 2nd overall in 2023 with two wins and six podiums. 

Whilst Ashton’s 2024 plans are still to be confirmed, she took to her Instagram to let followers know she’ll be behind the wheel more this year… 

The 62nd 24 Hours of Daytona deciding race is taking place on Saturday 27 - Sunday 28 January, and we will be bringing you updates via our socials as we cheer on these incredible women in motorsport.