Sarah Bovy (born 15 May 1989 in Liège[2]) is a Belgian female racing driver. She has recently competed with the Iron Dames team in multiple series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
| Sarah Bovy | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bovy in 2023 | |||||||||||
| Nationality |  Belgian | ||||||||||
| Born | 15 May 1989 Liège, Belgium | ||||||||||
| FIA World Endurance Championship career | |||||||||||
| Debut season | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Current team | Iron Dames | ||||||||||
| Racing licence |  FIA Bronze (2021–2024) FIA Silver (2025)[1] | ||||||||||
| Car number | 85 | ||||||||||
| Starts | 24 | ||||||||||
| Wins | 1 | ||||||||||
| Poles | 7 | ||||||||||
| Fastest laps | 1 | ||||||||||
| Best finish | 2nd in 2023 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Biography
editFollowing two years in karting, Bovy began her racing career as a Formula Renault Academy driver in Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium. Former Formula One driver Thierry Boutsen took her under his wing as part of his team, and began an association with the Boutsen-Ginion squad that saw her race in GT, touring car and silhouette racing disciplines before taking a year's break in 2014 due to a lack of funding and undertook a Bachelor of Marketing course.[3]
Bovy returned to the sport in 2015, gaining the funding to complete a full season in the Renault Sport Trophy. She yielded a podium in her home race at Spa-Francorchamps before falling back into a part-time endurance campaign in 2016.[4] The next two seasons would see her align with Lamborghini, contesting the 2017 Super Trofeo Europe Championship – finishing 14th in the Pro-Am class – and various endurance races in 2018, finishing second in class at the 2018 24 Hours of Spa.[5][6]
In 2019, Bovy applied for entry into the women's only Formula Regional championship W Series. She was accepted as one of the series' reserve drivers, and would be called upon on three occasions – the first time in her home race at Zolder where she failed to start with technical issues; again in Misano following injury for regular driver Emma Kimiläinen, finishing 12th; and also in the final round of the championship at Brands Hatch, ending the race 19th after sustaining front-wing damage in the early laps. She scored no points and was the penultimate driver in the standings.[7]
Iron Dames
editIn 2021, Bovy would join the Iron Dames to compete in the opening rounds of the Michelin Le Mans Cup alongside Doriane Pin.[8] The same year, she would also drive in two rounds of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, before being introduced into the team's WEC roster for the final four rounds of the campaign, replacing Manuela Gostner.[9][10]
The following year saw the Belgian team up with Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting to contest a full season in the LMGTE Am class of the World Endurance Championship, as well as racing in the European Le Mans Series and GTWC Europe Endurance Cup.[11][12] During the WEC campaign, Bovy became the first woman to claim a pole position in the series' history, qualifying first at both Monza and Bahrain.[13][14] Additionally, podiums in the final three races of the season helped the #85 Dames crew to finish third in the teams' championship. Adding to Bovy's successful year, the Dames would win the Gold Cup at the 24 Hours of Spa as well as finishing third overall in the ELMS, as a Bovy pole position was converted to victory at the Algarve.[15][16]
Bovy returned to the Iron Dames roster for another WEC season in 2023, this time switching from the Ferrari 488 GTE Evo to a Porsche 911 RSR-19.[17] The season opener at Sebring began strongly, with Bovy taking pole position, though an off by Frey which damaged the car's diffuser and floor would curtail any hopes of a maiden victory.[18] Despite not scoring pole in Portugal, a clean race enabled the #85 team to take their first podium of the year, finishing third.[19] Further top five finishes followed at Spa and Le Mans, where Bovy and her teammates narrowly missed out on a podium due to a slow final stop.[20] Bovy scored her second pole of the year in Monza and led the race during the opening stint, before the team fell back to fifth by the checkered flag.[21]
Racing record
editRacing career summary
edit
* Season still in progress.
Complete W Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Hitech GP | HOC PO |
ZOL DNS |
MIS 12 |
NRM PO |
ASN PO |
BRH 19 |
19th | 0 |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
edit.jpg)
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |  Iron Lynx
|
 Rahel Frey Michelle Gatting
|
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | GTE Am |
332 | 36th | 9th |
| 2022 | Iron Dames
|
Rahel Frey Michelle Gatting
|
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | GTE Am |
339 | 40th | 7th |
| 2023 | Iron Dames
|
Rahel Frey Michelle Gatting
|
Porsche 911 RSR-19 | GTE Am |
312 | 30th | 4th |
| 2024 | Iron Dames
|
Rahel Frey Michelle Gatting
|
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | LMGT3 | 279 | 32nd | 5th |
Complete European Le Mans Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Iron Lynx | LMGTE | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | CAT | RBR | LEC | MNZ | SPA 3 |
ALG 3 |
14th | 30 |
| 2022 | Iron Lynx | LMGTE | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | LEC 4 |
IMO 8 |
MNZ 5 |
CAT Ret |
SPA 2 |
ALG 1 |
3rd | 70 |
| 2024 | Iron Dames | LMGT3 | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 | CAT Ret |
LEC 4 |
IMO 1 |
SPA Ret |
MUG 7 |
ALG 2 |
4th | 65 |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
edit.jpg)
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Iron Lynx | LMGTE Am | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | SPA | ALG | MNZ 8 |
LMS 6 |
FUJ 8 |
BHR 8 |
14th | 30 | ||
| 2022 | Iron Dames | LMGTE Am | Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 | SEB 5 |
SPA | LMS 6 |
MNZ 2 |
FUJ 2 |
BHR 3 |
5th | 92 | ||
| 2023 | Iron Dames | LMGTE Am | Porsche 911 RSR-19 | Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 | SEB 8 |
ALG 3 |
SPA 5 |
LMS 4 |
MNZ 5 |
FUJ 4 |
BHR 1 |
2nd | 118 | |
| 2024 | Iron Dames | LMGT3 | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | Lamborghini DGF 5.2 L V10 | QAT 8 |
IMO NC |
SPA 5 |
LMS 4 |
SÃO Ret |
COA 13 |
FUJ 5 |
BHR 10 |
8th | 54 |
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Iron Dames | GTD | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | Lamborghini 5.2 L V10 | DAY 18 |
SEB 11 |
LBH | LGA | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | IMS | PET | 45th | 368 |
| 2024 | Iron Dames | GTD | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 | Lamborghini 5.2 L V10 | DAY 6 |
SEB 20 |
LBH | LGA | WGL 15 |
MOS | ELK | VIR | IMS 18 |
PET 13 |
39th | 918 |
References
edit- ^ "Martin Promoted to Iron Dames' Lead Lineup for 2025". Sportscar365. 3 November 2024.
- ^ "GETTING TO KNOW: SARAH BOVY". Lamborghini. 26 June 2023.
- ^ "A Winning Attitude by Sarah Bovy". SThree Careers. 20 February 2018.
- ^ "Speedqueens – Sarah Bovy". Speedqueens.com. 29 November 2015.
- ^ "Sarah Bovy : "All I need was a Lambo"". Endurance-Info.com. 2 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lamborghini Racing Driver Sarah Bovy Does Delicious Huracan Performante Donuts". Auto Evolution. 29 June 2018.
- ^ "W Series adds reserve driver Bovy to expanded Zolder grid". Motorsport.com. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (16 April 2021). "Thursday Paddock Notes From ELMS & Michelin Le Mans Cup". dailysportscar.com.
- ^ Dagys, John (2021-05-20). "Iron Lynx Expands to Field All-Female Lineup at Paul Ricard – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (13 July 2021). "Monza FIA WEC Pre-Meeting News Notebook". dailysportscar.com.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (16 February 2022). "Iron Lynx Confirm 2022 Line-ups For FIA WEC, ELMS, GT World Challenge Europe & Ferrari Challenge". dailysportscar.com.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2022-03-16). ""Cohesion" Important for Iron Dames in 17-Race Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Fernandez, Mat (9 July 2022). "Dumas Claims Pole At Monza For Glickenhaus". dailysportscar.com.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (2022-11-11). "Hartley Puts No. 8 Toyota into Points Lead With Bahrain Pole – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (2022-08-01). "Spa Class Win Feels Like "Just The Beginning" for Iron Dames – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2022-10-16). "Deletraz, Habsburg Champions as Prema Wins at Portimao – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (6 February 2023). "Iron Lynx Confirms ELMS and WEC GTE Squads". Dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2023-03-16). "Ferrari Beats Toyota to Shock 1000M Sebring Pole – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (2023-04-16). "No. 8 Toyota Takes Dominant Portimao Victory – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2023-06-11). "Corvette Wins Final Le Mans GTE-Am Race – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2023-07-08). "Kobayashi Takes Monza Pole in Tight Qualifying Session – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
External links
edit
- Profile at Driver Database
- Official website