Iron Lynx will field a two-car entry in the upcoming French Rally Championship with the Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, with a third entry being run under the Iron Dames banner.
The move marks a new venture for the team and enhances its motorsport portfolio by adding an entirely new discipline to its programme.
The team will be assisted in this new venture by renowned rally team Sarrazin Motorsport, fronted by former World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship, Formula E and Formula One driver Stéphane Sarrazin.
Jean-Baptiste Franceschi, 27, is the first driver to be announced for the team. The reigning French Gravel champion won twice in 2023 and finished five more times in the top three on his way to the title.
The 2021 FIA ERC3 and ERC3 Junior champion’s co-driver will be announced at a later date.
The second driver announced is Réhane Gany. The promising 22-year-old second-generation driver is already establishing a strong pedigree in rallying and has already participated in both the French Rally and French Gravel Rally championships.
In 2023, he participated in a handful of championships including the Stellantis Cup France and French Cup, having built experience in the French Gravel Championship in 2022 having made his full-time rally foray in 2021.
The co-driver for this entry will be former Junior World Rally Championship co-driver Franck Le Floch.
Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, said: “Today marks a historic moment for the Iron Lynx name, by expanding into a completely new discipline in rallying.
“It is a very exciting time to welcome new names to the Iron Lynx family, especially some with vast experience in rallying.
“Stéphane and I go a long way back to the International Formula 3000 days in 1999 and is a former team-mate of mine from the GT1 era at Le Mans, and we shared a car that took to the podium in Utah in the American Le Mans Series so we already know what it means to be successful together and we aim to continue that into our new venture.”
The Iron Dames-run car will be piloted by Sarah Rumeau, 2022 French Women’s Champion, alongside co-driver Julie Amblard. This entry will also participate in the six-round French Gravel Rally Championship.
Rumeau said, “I am so happy to be able to join the Iron Dames project; it is a very important moment in my career.
“It is an honour and an incredible opportunity to be the first representatives in rallying.
“I would like to thank Deborah Mayer for her confidence and support.”
Mayer, Iron Dames Project Founder added, “I am extremely pleased to open this new chapter in the exciting world of rallying and to welcome Sarah and Julie to the Iron Dames family.
“After endurance, Formula 4, karting and equestrian sports, the Iron Dames project is continuing its development by giving more and more women the chance to evolve and shine in sports whose beauty is that they compete on equal terms with men.
“With their passion and determination to reach the highest level in their discipline, Sarah and Julie embrace the spirit and values of the project.
“We are delighted to benefit from the expertise and know-how of Stéphane Sarrazin and his teams.
“This guarantees that our drivers will be racing in the best possible conditions. We are all committed to helping them realise their dreams.”
