Iron Dames’ Michelle Gatting’s special Porsche tennis challenge

Photo diary: Iron Dames’ driver Michelle Gatting’s tennis and driving challenge

Two rising tennis stars join the top racing driver at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

April 29, 2025 | 2 min read

Michelle Gatting, Nastasja Schunk and Mariella Thamm at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix driving challenge

Find out what happened when three Porsche athletes – stars of court and racetrack – went head-to-head at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at the wheel and with the racquet

With the tennis season in full swing and the FIA World Endurance Championship race series underway, it seems like a good time to gather together talent from the ever-expanding group of Porsche athletes. And there was no more appropriate a venue than the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Held annually each April in Stuttgart, home to Porsche, it’s one of the leading events in the women’s tennis calendar.

From motorsport, we have Michelle Gatting, member of the record-breaking, all-female Iron Dames team. As well as campaigning their pink 911 GT3 R in the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and both the European and Asian Le Mans Series (alongside team mates Rahel Frey, Sarah Bovy and Célia Martin), Michelle has also been promoted to the Porsche contracted driver squad for 2025.

From tennis, there’s Nastasja Schunk and Mariella Thamm. These two young German players are part of the Porsche Talent Team. Similar to the acclaimed Porsche Motorsport Junior programme, the Porsche Talent Team helps support young talent in their sporting journey, offering comprehensive training, coaching and support.

Find out what happened in an action-packed day in which the three sportswomen swapped coaching lessons, visited Porsche HQ, took on the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix driving challenge before concluding at the Porsche Arena, where Michelle cheered on Nastasja and Mariella from the sidelines as they competed in their respective matches.

Racing driver, Michelle Gatting of Iron Dames, outside Porsche HQ — Denmark’s Michelle Gatting of Iron Dames has been appointed a Porsche contracted driver for the 2025 season. Along with her three Iron Dames team mates, she will campaign a Porsche 911 GT3 R across four of the world’s top endurance racing series, including WEC and IMSA. But first, she has a very different kind of test facing her – to take on two rising tennis stars before embarking on the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix driving challenge Photo: Porsche

Porsche Talent Team programme tennis player, Nastasja Schunk, on court — The first of Michelle’s two competitors/companions for the day is Germany’s Nastasja Schunk. A member of the Porsche Talent Team, the left-hander from Mainz has a career record of 121 wins and 85 defeats (as of 24 April 2025). Born in 2003, Nastasja – whose nickname is ‘Nasti’ – was runner-up in the Girls’ Singles Final at Wimbledon in 2021 Photo: Porsche

Porsche Talent Team programme tennis player, Mariella Thamm, hits serve — Joining Nastasja and Michelle on court is Germany’s Mariella Thamm, one of the newest members of the Porsche Talent Team programme. Born in 2009, Mariella reached a career high world junior ranking of 34 in February 2025. Like Nastasja, she was in Stuttgart to compete in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix… as well as taking part in an exciting day of competitive activities with Michelle Photo: Porsche

Race driver Michelle Gatting of Iron Dames training with tennis stars — Like motorsport, tennis requires high levels of co-ordination and concentration. Here, Michelle (nearest the camera) takes part in an hour-long tennis coaching session with Nastasja and Mariella on Centre Court at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, ahead of the championships Photo: Porsche

Iron Dames race driver Michelle Gatting at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur — After an intensive tennis session on the clay courts of the Porsche Arena, Michelle, Nastasja and Mariella made the short trip up to the Porsche HQ in Zuffenhausen. Here the three visited Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, where customers worldwide go to achieve enhanced interior and exterior customisation options, from material to paint and beyond, when building their new Porsche Photo: Porsche

Michelle Gatting and Porsche Talent Team players discuss Porsche colours — “So, what’s your favourite?” Michelle guides Mariella and Nastasja through the Paint to Sample books at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur – which one will they choose? Photo: Porsche

Michelle Gatting and Porsche Talent Team players choose Porsche colours — And the choices are in! Photo: Porsche

Michelle Gatting with 2015 WEC-winning Porsche 919 Hybrid racecar — Gunning for Le Mans… and much more: while at Porsche HQ in Zuffenhausen, Michelle met the #17 Porsche 919 Hybrid race car that Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Mark Webber drove in their 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship drivers’ title-winning season Photo: Porsche

Porsche Macan Turbo on driving course at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix — Next, it was time for Michelle to turn the tables on her new tennis friends back at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix by demonstrating her car-handling skills in a new Macan Turbo on a tight indoor course next to the Porsche Arena Photo: Porsche

Polaroid picture of Iron Dames race driver Michelle Gatting — No surprise that Michelle – who, along with her Iron Dames co-drivers, was a member of the first all-female team to grab a WEC class win at the 2023 8 Hours of Bahrain – grabbed the fastest time. But her tennis pals put in a fine effort, aided by some top tips from Michelle herself Photo: Porsche

Iron Dames’ Michelle Gatting hitting tennis ball, Porsche Macan behind — There was still some time afterwards for Michelle to celebrate her victory by getting in a little bit of extra tennis practice ahead of the trio’s next port of call… Photo: Porsche

Iron Dames race driver Michelle Gatting watches tennis at Stuttgart Open — It was front row seats for Michelle at the Porsche Arena as she watched Nastasja and Mariella compete in their matches at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Who knows, maybe the two rising tennis stars will return the favour and head off to take in a race weekend to cheer Michelle and the Iron Dames very soon? Photo: Porsche

Consumption and emission information

Macan Turbo Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 20.7 – 18.9 kWh/100 km (preliminary value); CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km (preliminary value); CO₂ class: A (preliminary value).

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