Rahel Frey: Thanks to Audi with Ferrari 🎥
RELEASE New adventure for Rahel Frey. In an all-women team from Kessel Racing she will drive a Ferrari GT3 in the European Le Mans Series. Not a matter of course for the Audi factory driver. https://www.facebook.com/gulf12hours/videos/315450242515409/ At the Abu Dhabi 12 Hours in December, Kessel Racing fielded a Ferrari 488 GT3 manned by three women for the first time. [...]
https://www.facebook.com/gulf12hours/videos/315450242515409/
At the 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi in December, Kessel Racing entered a Ferrari 488 GT3 crewed by three women for the first time. The drivers were Rahel Frey (31) from Switzerland, Manuela Gostner (34) from Italy and Michelle Gatting (26) from Denmark. The race went so well, with second place in class, that all the partners involved subsequently gave the green light for a planned project in the 2019 racing season.
As Audi works driver on Ferrari
The trio of women will now contest the entire European Le Mans Series on a Kessel Ferrari. Lucerne-based Frenchwoman Deborah Mayer and the FIA Commission for Women in Motorsport are behind the project. As she used to do in races with Kessel Racing, Mayer would like to be a driver herself. But because the official Ferrari brand ambassador and collector is looking forward to the joys of motherhood, she is concentrating on the role of project manager.
The fact that Rahel Frey can drive is not a matter of course. The soon-to-be 32-year-old from Solothurn has been employed by Audi since 2011. First as a factory driver in the DTM, and for a few years now as an instructor, coach and driver at Audi Sport costumer racing and the Audi Driving Experience.
Rahel Frey: "I credit Audi for giving me the go-ahead for these stints. I'm now really looking forward to this championship."
The 2019 ELMS consists of six races, each lasting four hours, held at the five GP circuits of Le Castellet, Monza, Barcelona, Silverstone and Spa, plus Portimão at the end of October.
Memories of 2010
Rahel Frey has experience in an all-female team from 2010, when she drove a Ford GT in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Matech Racing together with Cyndie Allemann and Natacha Gachnang. That could also be where the three Kessel Ladies are headed. Especially since the FIA has a strong interest in promoting women in racing.
Rahel Frey: "Our entry in the ELMS is also already a clear statement from the FIA. At the moment, there is an extreme trend toward women's teams and women in racing."
This also includes the project of an all-female team at the Nürburgring 24 Hours on a VW Golf GTI TCR. One of the drivers is Jasmin Preisig from Appenzell. As reported, Rahel Frey will be involved behind the scenes as a coach.
More races with Audi
However, Rahel will not be unfaithful to her own brand. Negotiations are currently underway as to where she will compete in 2019. One goal would be to remain in the ADAC GT Masters, albeit no longer with Yaco Racing, which has left for rally racing. The VLN and races in Asia are also up for debate. She certainly won't be bored.
