Pin Became “More Confident” Through Ferrari Challenge Stint

Iron Dames driver Doriane Pin feels that she grew in confidence during her Ferrari Challenge stint and that she became “more ready” to compete in GT racing as a result.

The 18-year-old Frenchwoman claimed the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe title by winning nine out of 14 races in her Iron Lynx-run Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo.

Pin made her sports car racing debut last year in the Michelin Le Mans Cup’s GT3 class after being picked up by the Iron Dames program which supports female driving talent.

It was a challenging season as Pin finished fifth behind drivers from the other two full-season crews, but this year she started winning races behind the wheel of Ferrari GT3 and GTE machinery in addition to her dominant Challenge campaign.

Highlights included winning the Gold Cup class at TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa alongside Michelle Gatting, Sarah Bovy and Rahel Frey, and taking class honors at the European Le Mans Series season finale with Gatting and Bovy in changing conditions.

“I feel more ready than last year and more confident,” Pin told Sportscar365.

“I know a bit more about everything. Ferrari Challenge is sprint races so you can really focus on your own driving, improving skills and how to communicate with the engineers and mechanics.

“It’s not only driving; it’s everything together. I really grew during this year. I started in Michelin Le Mans Cup, but it was my first year in car racing and GTs so it was completely new.

“It’s only my second year, but I’m happy that we made a big step this season and we can show in high championships like WEC and ELMS that we are fighting for the wins.”

Pin explained that her solo Ferrari Challenge program gave her the space to learn more about communicating effectively with team members and understanding the impacts of car setup changes.

“Knowing the car a bit better, mechanically,” she identified when asked about what she learned during the season. “Also the precision of my feedback and the setup.

“I understand that a bit more, and it’s helpful because I understand even more how the car behaves.

“I learned a lot about communication also. It’s easier now and we take a bit more pleasure to share with everyone.”

Homework has also been integral to Pin’s development of her racecraft.

“When you drive a Ferrari you learn, but I also worked a lot at home,” she added.

“If I have a race [coming up], I watch races of the years before to see what’s happened, to see the lines and the curbs, to analyze a lot before going there.

“It’s part of my job and I love to do it, analyzing everything.”

Pin expressed gratitude for how the Iron Dames initiative has enabled her to make steps on the sports car racing ladder. She plans to continue with the program next year when it switches to running Lamborghinis in GT3.

“For me, it was the chance of my career,” said Pin.

“Without them, I would not be racing anymore because it’s a lot of money and it’s difficult to be in the right place at the right moment.

“But one year ago it happened and I’m very happy with how [it has gone].”

Pin Excited for “Different” LMP2 Experience

In September the FIA World Endurance Championship selected Pin as one of four official drivers who will get a minimum of 30 laps in this weekend’s post-season rookie test at Bahrain International Circuit.

Pin will get behind the wheel of the title-winning Oreca 07 Gibson, giving her seat time in a different type of car run by a different team.

Her preparations for the rookie test included half a day of dry-weather running at Portimao in Iron Lynx affiliate Prema’s ELMS championship-winning Oreca.

“I’m looking forward to it because it’s completely different,” said Pin.

“I’m sure I will learn a lot, because it will be with the car that won the WEC, so it will be a good car and team.

“I will make a step to understand and know different cars. The more you do that, the more you learn. It will be interesting and I can’t wait.”