In a joint effort with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, the FIA brought together five exceptional female sim racers from around the world, each of whom earned their place through an online Time Attack competition on iRacing. Their invitation to Bahrain celebrated their impressive performances and offered them a rare chance to step directly into the atmosphere of a live endurance racing weekend.
At the heart of the group was Fabienne Lanz of South Africa, a well-known racing driver and passionate sim racing advocate. As the founder of the Girls Camp for Africa, Fabienne, has long championed opportunities for women in both virtual and real world racing. Her leadership and experience gave the programme an added sense of purpose and direction.
During the event, the participants put their skills to the test on-site using Le Mans Ultimate, the official World Endurance Championship video game. Their programme went well beyond the simulator, with behind-the-scenes access to key FIA operations including Race Control and Scrutineering, plus guided tours of the Ferrari AF Corse, Iron Dames and BMW M Team WRT garages while the race action was unfolding.
Alongside Fabienne, the invited racers included Andrea Aymon (Switzerland), founder of 921 Racing and a six time GT3 Endurance champion on iRacing with more than 7,400 iRacing; Beverley D’Souza (Indian-Portuguese, born and raised in Dubai), winner of the opening rounds of the UAE Sim Championship; Holly Card (United Kingdom), a young talent with a growing passion for single seaters; and Brenna Schubert (USA), a competitive racer progressing confidently between virtual and real world motorsport.
“It was an amazing weekend, and I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Getting to see the behind the scenes in Race Control and Scrutineering, aspects of motor sport I did not know much about until this weekend, was cool,” said Card.
“The days were an incredible deep dive into the world of motor sport. We experienced the 8 Hours of Bahrain from every possible angle and the people we met made the weekend truly memorable,” added Aymon.
The FIA’s initiative in Bahrain highlighted not only the skill and dedication of these racers, but also the shared mission to encourage greater female participation in all areas of motor sport, both in the virtual arena and on the track. Fabienne’s presence and ongoing advocacy served as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when passion, opportunity and representation come together.
