WEC's first female victor Lilou Wadoux: 'I can win Le Mans'

Le Mans News

Lilou Wadoux has already made history this year by becoming WEC's first female winner at Spa – can she do the same at Le Mans?

2 Lilou Wadoux Ferrari Le Mans 2023

Wadoux is currently blazing a trail in WEC

DPPI

Endurance racing has long been an arena in which female racers can fight it out with the very best.

Desire Wilson won both the Monza 6 Hours and the Silverstone 6 Hours races in 1980 with Alain de Cadenet – when WEC was in its World Championship of Makes form – and all-female crews won their class at Le Mans in 1974 and ’75, the latter team featuring WRC legend Michelle Mouton. More recently the all-female Iron Dames team has been blazing a trail at endurance racing’s top table, as well as young Doriane Pin in LMP2.

However, last year saw the emergence of a new female sports car star, whose prodigious ability means she could soon surpass all previous achievements of women in endurance racing: Lilou Wadoux.

The 22-year-old French woman, who just a few years ago was plying her trade in her national Renault Clio Cup, made history at Spa this year as the first woman to win a race in the current World Endurance Championship.

Lilou Wadoux Ferrari Spa 6 Hours 2023

Wadoux became first female WEC winner in Spa this year

DPPI

Now she has her sights set on the world’s biggest race and a Hypercar future, saying: “I can win Le Mans.”

Wadoux announced herself to the wider motor sport world at Le Mans last year, partnering with off-road legend Sébastien Ogier and LMP2 WEC champion Charles Milesi in the Richard Mille team, the line-up finishing a very respectable ninth in class out of 26 cars, in a category many regard as the most competitive in the world.

“When I won I was thinking about how I started this as a hobby few years ago only”

Now Wadoux has moved to the AF Corse GTE-AM team, driving a Ferrari 488, and has only gone from strength to strength.

After retiring from Sebring, Wadoux and team-mates Luis Perez Companc & Alessio Rovera took second at Portimao, before claiming a brilliant win at Spa to sit second in their class standings.

Excitement is understandably building around the precocious Wadoux, but the Amiens native says gender is not a consideration for her when the visor comes down.

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“Not really!” when asked by Motor Sport whether she took satisfaction in becoming WEC’s first female winner.

“It was more an inside fulfilment, doing the right work to make it real. I was more thinking [about] when I started motor sport as a hobby few years ago only, about my grandparents and parents and the people around who helped me massively and without them for sure I would not be here talking about my first WEC victory.

“I’m talking about [sponsors] Amanda & Richard Mille, my manager Philippe Dumas, Ferrari Competizioni GT, [AF Corse team principal] Amato Ferrari.”

Wadoux felt herself and her team-mates were on the verge of victory already in Portugal, thus further colouring the emotion of winning: “Considering we have lost the previous race by few tenths in Portimao, it was a pretty nice feeling I have to say – the best was to see the happiness on the faces of the guys around.”

First place is clearly the target at La Sarthe once more, but Wadoux’s taste of even faster machinery than GT cars means she has one eye on the future too.

4 Lilou Wadoux Ferrari Le Mans 2023

Wadoux is ready for a second go at the the most fearsome challenge in endurance racing

Ferrari

At the end of last season the young rookie was chosen to take part in a Toyota Hypercar test in Bahrain, and she immediately caught the eye with her performance.

“She did quite well, look at the lap time,” said Toyota team boss Pascal Vasselon. “Within the few rookies who have been testing today, she has been very impressive.

“Driving a Hypercar was fun and super interesting”

“She came very, very prepared. She was immediately at the same pace.”

Wadoux herself says she felt ready for the Hypercar task.

“It was fun and super interesting which is the point I kept the most in mind,” she says. “Very complex cars where you need a brain next to the speed. And I quite like that!

“Working a lot before to be comfortable, simulator, procedures… Not a massive difference in term of driving compare to an LMP2, just more complicated to deal with.

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“For one of the first times I’m talking about women in motor sport, probably we have an advantage being able to do multiple things at the same time inside the cockpit compare to men!”

With limited LMP2 and Hypercar experience up to now, Wadoux believes now she just needs more seat time.

“Considering what I did before, it’s quite logical I’m more ‘at home’ with a GT, [because my previous experience is] close to zero go-kart, no formula cars.

“My young career is only Peugeot 208 club races, Alpine cup and straight away WEC LMP2 with very limited testing! So I just need laps in a prototype, I love it and I don’t see any issues to perform.”

Focusing on the here and now, Wadoux believes she’s found herself in the right place at the right time for her development.

“Alessio is our leader, he has the experience and he has won 2021 WEC GTE championship already with No83, Le Mans 24 Hours included!” she emphasises.

5 Lilou Wadoux Toyota Bahrain 2022

Having already tested a Toyota Hypercar, Wadoux could be set for a career at the top of sports car racing

DPPI

“We are working as a team, helping each other and listening to the huge experience of AF Corse race engineers.

“I have to say, it’s really nice for me to feel the kindness of everybody as well as considering me as a professional driver.”

“It will be my humble contribution to bring more diversity in our sport”

Post-La Sarthe, Wadoux says that the target is “definitely winning the championship”, but the Ferrari driver is not unaware of her place in history.

“I want to be seen like a racing driver and that’s it!” she says. “But true, I’m a woman so let’s work hard, perform and win races & championships. This will be my message for girls in motor sport!

“I deeply think women can do as good as men, especially in endurance, so I hope it will be my humble contribution to bring more diversity at the highest level in our sport.”