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Woman,

mother, driver

What could be further between a race car driver and a mom? Between the almost entirely male competition and the sweetness of a young woman?
Nothing for Manuela Gostner!
“I am convinced that being a mother is a great challenge, we are not special or perhaps better said, we all are... every day is like a race: constancy, tenacity, organization, problem solving and courage; the same characteristics that a successful driver needs”.

How the passion

is born

Manuela Gostner was born on the 19th May 1984 in Bolzano and grew up in Caldaro, a typical South Tyrolean village in the heart of the Alps.
As a young mother of two girls, volleyball player and entrepreneur in the retail sector, she discovered racing almost by accident.
“My brother and my Dad were the enthusiasts in the family. In 2013, I attended one of their races. It was a wonderful thrill!
On the wave of enthusiasm, my Dad offered me trying a racing car.

A really special moment was, when I sat next to my brother and watched him race.
He managed 600 horsepower with technique, toughness, sensitivity and courage in such a natural way, an that’s when it hit me: it was love at first sight for me. I thought:
“I want to do it too!”

The debut

and the career

Manuela’s first race was Brno in 2014, where she was thrown in at deep end. Without experience, Manuela did her very best, but realized she needed a coach to teach her how to drive in a race.
She decided to rely on Giorgio Sernagiotto, an expert racing driver and a recognized driving coach.
From that moment on, the South Tyrolean driver has been unstoppable.
She has improved her performance by working hard every day, managing her emotions during a race without ever refusing to face a challenge.
By implementing these qualities, she achieved the following results:

  • 2017 –   third overall position (5 podium places and two victories) at the GT4 European Series on the Maserati Granturismo GT4 MC
  • 2018 – third overall position (6 podium places and two victories) at the Ferrari Challenge Europe – Coppa Shell
  • 2019 – fourth overall position (two podium places) at the European Le Mans Series on the Ferrari 488 GTE Iron Dames
  • 2020 – fourth overall position (three podium places) at the European Le Mans Series on the Ferrari 488 GTE Iron Dames
    Ninth position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE on the Ferrari 488 GTE Iron Dames
  • 2021 – seventh position at the World Endurance Championship on the Ferrari 488 GTE Iron Dames
    Ninth position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE on the Ferrari 488 GTE Iron Dames
  • 2022 – third overall position (3 podium places) at the Ferrari Challenge Europe – Coppa Shell
  • 2023 – Second overall Ferrari Challenge Coppa Shell (3 Wins + 6 podiums)

The big challenge:

24 Hours of Le Mans

Due to the victories in the Ferrari Challenge and in the GT4 with Maserati, Manuela was chosen by the Kessel Racing/Iron Dames Team for being part of an all-female crew in 2018.
Together with her teammates from Switzerland, Rahel Frey, and from Denmark, Michelle Gatting, she participated at the European Endurance Championship in 2019 and 2020 on a Ferrari 488 GTE.
The team was selected to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most important racing car competition in the world!

Manuela is the third female Italian in history to compete in this prestigious race, after the pioneers ,Anna Cambiaghi and Lella Lombardi.

They conquered five podium places in the ELMS European Endurance Championship and two participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2019 and 2020 on board of the Ferrari 488 GTE of the Iron Dames.
Both times they managed to race into the Top Ten
(two ninth places out of 25 competitors).

Iron Dames

Manuela was part of the Iron Dames from 2018 to 2022. The all-female crew was launched by Deborah Mayer, Ferrari ambassador, passionate driver and president of the FIA Women in Motorsport.
Her aim was to compete with an all-female crew of drivers against men’s crews in the most important motorsport competitions in the world.
Deborah and the Iron Dames wanted to inspire girls and women from all over the world with the project "Women driven by Dreams".
From the 2023 season on, the Iron Dames race with Lamborghini. Manuela has chosen to remain within Ferrari instead, but:
"Although my commitment on the track has ended, being an Iron Dame has been an honor, a privilege and a wonderful responsibility.
Being an Iron Dame, especially in the early years of the program, meant setting an example for all women, demonstrating that the most ambitious dreams can become true - without fear, without differences and with equal opportunities.
Today I have the opportunity to proudly and consistently bring my values to the world through motorsports.
Being a mother of 2 girls, it is also my personal mission and I see myself in these values: resilience, courage and believing in yourself - always!"