WOMEN WHO RIDE
"LE MANS CLASSIC"
Talent: Chiara Aichele, Vanina Ickx
Photography & Interview: Victoria Maskell
Chiara Aichele and Vanina Ickx at the Le Mans Classic, where a century of racing history comes back to the Circuit de la Sarthe.
There is a town in the west of France that loses track of the century for one weekend each summer. Le Mans. The air turns to warm oil and cut grass, and the Circuit de la Sarthe fills again with the machines that made it a legend: Jaguars, Ford GT40s, Porsche 917s, Ferraris in reds that have outlived the people who chose them. The Le Mans Classic began in 2002 as a love letter to the 24 Hours. For twenty years it arrived every other summer, like an affair you only allow yourself when you're strong enough. Now it comes back every year, because nobody is that strong. Why keep doing it? Because memory is the only luxury that never depreciates, and because beauty this loud was never meant to sit quietly behind velvet rope.
History has mostly told Le Mans in a man's voice, but women were never absent from it, only left out of the telling. In 1932, Odette Siko finished fourth overall on this same stretch of French asphalt. Since then, women have driven here, engineered here, run teams here and held entire operations together, often while someone else's name went on the trophy. That era is closing. Today they are behind the wheel, behind the lens and at the head of the table, and they have stopped waiting for an invitation. They arrive with style and leave with the lap times. This is the story of one of them, seen through the lens of another.
Introduction: The Journey
Why does Le Mans feel so special? How do you feel the magic? Could you feel the story when you were there? Do you remember the moment when motorsport started to take a real place in your life, even before it became a clear career or project?
Everyone knows about it, but only a few people have ever experienced it in person: the legendary Le Mans start. I think that's exactly what fascinates me so much. These incredible cars, the stories behind them, the bravery of the drivers and the unique atmosphere make Le Mans unlike any other race in the world. When you're there, you can truly feel the history. It's impossible not to imagine all the moments that have happened on that track over the decades. That connection between the past and the present is what makes Le Mans so magical to me.
II. Your Job
Are there questions people often ask you that completely miss the reality of what you do? Is there something you wish people understood better about your job?
I do. A few years ago, I spent several months travelling in a Volvo 245. During that time, I read a book about Jutta Kleinschmidt, and it had a huge impact on me. Her determination, her courage and the incredible story she built around cars and motorcycles inspired me deeply. I think that was one of the moments when I realised that motorsport isn't just about racing; it's about people, passion, adventure and pushing boundaries. That inspiration has stayed with me ever since.
"Motorsport isn't just about racing; it's about people, passion, adventure and pushing boundaries."
Absolutely. Many people think my job is simply travelling to beautiful places, driving incredible cars and posting photos on social media. But that's only a very small part of it. Behind every project, there are weeks of preparation, communication, planning, content production, editing and building long-term relationships with brands and event organisers. It's much more than what people see on Instagram.
I think I'm one of the few people who has experienced this world from almost every perspective. I started as a passionate visitor, then became a driver myself, and today I work as an event manager and marketing specialist with a strong focus on the automotive and motorsport industry. That allows me to understand not only the emotional side of these events but also the organisation, the storytelling and the value they create for brands and partners. I believe that's what makes my work different, and it's why I'm so passionate about it.
Pit Stop: Two Women,
One Circuit
Every race has a moment when the car comes in, the engine ticks as it cools, and everyone takes stock. So let's take stock. Chiara's career didn't fall into her lap; she built it by hand. First a visitor in the grandstands, then a driver, and now the woman behind the events and stories that bring everyone else to the track. A book about Jutta Kleinschmidt, read during months on the road in a Volvo 245, lit the fuse. The rest was work, most of it the kind nobody photographs.
Some of the frames in this story belong to a woman who knows that work from the driver's seat. At Le Mans, Vanina Ickx's name enters the paddock before she does. Her father, Jacky, won the 24 Hours six times. She could have lived comfortably in that shadow. Instead she made her own light: seven starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, seventh overall in 2011, the Dakar Rally alongside her father, two seasons as an Audi factory driver. Then she stepped away for fourteen years, raised a family, and returned in 2025 in an Iron Dames Porsche. Some women don't retire; they take an intermission. "Women's presence has gone from being tolerated, to accepted, and today, genuinely encouraged," she told the Iron Dames this summer. She would know. She was there for all three.
One woman is still writing her early chapters. The other came back to write a new one. Chiara dreams of the Dakar; Vanina has already crossed its sand. Somewhere between the two of them is the whole future of this sport, and Chiara is heading straight for it.
The World of Motorsport
Have you noticed an evolution in the way motorsport has changed or become structured in recent years?
Absolutely. Motorsport has become much more accessible than it used to be. Through social media, people can now experience events from behind the scenes, get to know the personalities and become part of the community, even if they've never been to a race. At the same time, I think authenticity has become more important than ever. People don't just want to see fast cars; they want to understand the stories, the history, and the passion behind them. That's a change I really enjoy and try to contribute to with my own work.
In your opinion, what do women bring to this world that is still underestimated?
I would love to see even more women being confident, having fun and showing what they're truly capable of. Motorsport isn't about proving that women are better than men; it's about proving that passion, talent and determination have nothing to do with gender. I think the more women dare to drive, create, compete and share their own stories, the stronger and more inspiring this community will become. The automotive world needs more personalities, more authenticity and more people who aren't afraid to follow their passion.
"Passion, talent and determination have nothing to do with gender."
Last question: what are your biggest dreams in motorsport?
If we're talking about experiences, my biggest dream would definitely be to take on legendary events like the Isle of Man TT or the Dakar Rally. These are some of the greatest adventures in motorsport, and I would love to experience them first-hand one day.
But beyond that, my biggest dream is to share this passion with as many people as possible. I want to make the world of motorsport more accessible, show people how incredible it really is and encourage them to step into this world themselves. Whether that's by attending an event, driving a classic car, riding a motorcycle or simply following their curiosity, I want people to realise that motorsport isn't something distant; it's a community full of passion, history, craftsmanship and unforgettable experiences. If I can inspire and encourage others to discover this world and create their own memories, that would be my greatest achievement.
Photography and interview by Victoria Maskell for Le Push Magazine.