Vanina Ickx – at the Grand Meeting
“Iron Dame” – in 2026
The major festival “Grand Meeting” showcases the next generation. We are proud to present Vanina Ickx, a racing heroine of the present day, from 31 July to 2 August 2026.
The major festival “Grand Meeting” showcases the next generation. We are proud to present Vanina Ickx, a racing heroine of the present day, from 31 July to 2 August 2026.
Jacky Ickx’s “Iron Dame” takes to the track:
Vanina’s journey to the racetrack
Vanina Ickx is – and this is, of course, worth mentioning right at the outset – the daughter of six-time Le Mans winner, two-time Formula 1 runners-up and guest of honour at the 2026 Grand Meeting, Jacky Ickx. Having shown a keen interest in equestrian sports during her youth, Vanina eventually turned to motor racing in 1996.
She first competed in the BMW Compact Cup. That same year, she took part in the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race. This was followed by several appearances in touring cars – including the 1998 24-hour race – and she accompanied her father on the Paris-Dakar Rally. She then competed in the Spa 24-hour race again in 2000. This time in a Peugeot, she secured a podium finish straight away.
In the same year, she competed in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring as part of a team with Ellen Lohr, the unforgettable Sabine Schmitz and Tamara Vidali. In 2001, she competed as part of Jean Paul Belmondo’s team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That same year, Ickx also crossed the English Channel in a light aircraft and, later in her career, set a world speed record on skis on a ski jump.
In 2003, she competed in the 24-hour races at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps. This was followed by appearances in the Porsche Supercup and the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES). From 2006 onwards, the DTM became her racing platform – she drove an Audi A4 for the Futurecom team.
From 2008 onwards, Vanina mainly returned to competing in endurance races at Spa and Le Mans, as well as 1,000 km races. In the 2011 season, she competed in the LM P1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Lola Aston Martin. What a career!
In the same year, she drove a Ford GT 40 in the FIA World GT Championship. In 2018, she competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In 2023, she finished second in a Ford Falcon Sprint at the Spa Six Hours (the famous classic car race). Since 2025, Vanina Ickx has been racing for the ‘Iron Dames’ team alongside Marta Garcia in the GT3 class of the Le Mans Cup.
The Belgian, born in Brussels in 1975, will be attending the Grand Meeting 2026.
We are delighted to continue sharing updates with you on the legendary “Next Generation” rookies who will be joining us as special VIP guests of honour and racing drivers at our festival. With Lance David Arnold, the “Next Generation” is already on the starting grid here with us. Next up are the “Daughters & Sons of Speed”. Stay tuned for the latest updates!
Please remember: if you don’t want to miss Vanina Ickx and the other racing legends, you should definitely make sure to book your tickets for the Grand Meeting in advance.
Tickets are limited in 2026 – click here to go straight to the ticket shop for advance sales: