Elite company

To succeed as a top racing driving, regardless of the category, only one thing matters – speed. Once the helmet and race suit are on, performance behind the wheel is the only important factor, and the competition globally for those limited number of seats is as fierce as it gets.

For Swiss driver Rahel Frey, competing at the very highest level of the sport has become a part of life, starting as so many drivers do in karting and then working her way through the formulas to earn a reputation as one of the best in the business.

No small feat by any measure, but in a sport traditionally dominated by men, she is one of a small, but growing number of women to make it in this unforgiving arena.

Her success is considerable, driving everything from Formula Renault and Formula Three, to DTM (German Touring Car Masters) to GT cars. She has driven in the LMGT1 category at Le Mans, mentored up and coming drivers across a range of driving disciplines including taking her place in the 2017 TT Cup Race of Legends with some of the greatest names in modern motorsport.

She is considered one of the standout GT drivers with six victories in Audi’s GT3 sports car to date, including two in the ADAC GT Masters and four in the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup.

From early success in karting, Frey graduated to Formula Renault in her native Switzerland, finishing 4th in 2004 and third the following year. This success led to her moving to Formula Three in Germany where she finished seventh in the ATS Formula 3 Cup.

Her reputation grew and she came to the notice of numerous race teams throughout Europe, but it was in 2011 that her future path was set when she became a member of the Audi team, replacing Katherine Legge in the Audi DTM squad and spending two years in what is still considered the benchmark touring car series in the world.

In 2013, Frey furthered her relation with Audi Sport, and joined the brand’s benchmark customer racing programs and the rest, as they say, is history – or an ongoing history at any rate.

Her skill, not only behind the wheel but in coaching others, has seen Frey work all over the world, including a drive in Australia where she finished fifth at the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2014 – the same year she finished third in the Audi R8 LMS Cup.

Races throughout Asia and middle east have all seen the Swiss star build on her impressive record and closer to home she has enjoyed considerable success at the famed Nürburgring,  winning the 2017 SP-X class VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring in an Audi R8 LMS GT4 as well as finishing third in the SP-X class at the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race that same year.

In 2019, Frey is again a member of the Audi Sport customer racing team, one of 13 world class drivers and the only woman on the team. 

The Audi Sport’s driver lineup boasts a track record of 37 championship titles from one-make cups to international competitions as well as 16 overall victories in 24-hour races. Working alongside names like Markus Winkelhock, Christopher Mies, Christopher Haase and Kelvin van der Linde to name just four, Frey is part of an international team that are contesting ADAC GT Masters, European Blancpain GT, Audi R8 LMS Cup and FIA World Touring Car Cup. For Frey, mentoring drivers in Audi R8 LMS Cup is a rewarding part of her position within the team, but it is in the driver’s seat that’s she’s happiest and in 2019, her favourite place is without a doubt behind the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS GT3 car.