[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading uncode_shortcode_id=”463696″]Jacky Ickx\u2019s \u201cIron Dame\u201d takes to the track:
\nVanina\u2019s journey to the racetrack[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”221691″]Vanina Ickx is \u2013 and this is, of course, worth mentioning right at the outset \u2013 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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-74363″ medias=”7119,7125,7121,7124″ gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”” screen_md=”” screen_sm=”” single_width=”3″ images_size=”three-four” single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_overlay_anim=”no” single_text_anim=”no” single_image_anim=”no” single_padding=”2″ single_shadow=”yes” shadow_darker=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”159366″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”144948″]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 \u2013 including the 1998 24-hour race \u2013 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.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”144948″]In the same year, she competed in the 24-hour race at the N\u00fcrburgring 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\u2019s 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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-16455″ medias=”7126,7129,7130,7131″ gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”” screen_md=”” screen_sm=”” single_width=”3″ images_size=”three-four” single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_overlay_anim=”no” single_text_anim=”no” single_image_anim=”no” single_padding=”2″ single_shadow=”yes” shadow_darker=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”122840″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”188075″]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 \u2013 she drove an Audi A4 for the Futurecom team.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”144948″]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![\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”962299″]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 \u2018Iron Dames\u2019 team alongside Marta Garcia in the GT3 class of the Le Mans Cup.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″ uncode_shortcode_id=”101356″]The Belgian, born in Brussels in 1975, will be attending the Grand Meeting 2026.[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”166256″]We are delighted to continue sharing updates with you on the legendary \u201cNext Generation\u201d rookies who will be joining us as special VIP guests of honour and racing drivers at our festival. With Lance David Arnold, the \u201cNext Generation\u201d is already on the starting grid here with us. Next up are the \u201cDaughters & Sons of Speed\u201d. Stay tuned for the latest updates![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-69845″ medias=”7137,7135,7132,7136″ gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”” screen_md=”” screen_sm=”” single_width=”3″ images_size=”three-four” single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_overlay_anim=”no” single_text_anim=”no” single_image_anim=”no” single_padding=”2″ single_shadow=”yes” shadow_darker=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”182205″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”144948″]Please remember: if you don\u2019t 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.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”121927″]Tickets are limited in 2026 \u2013 click here to go straight to the ticket shop for advance sales:<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_button button_color=”accent” border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fclassic-days.shop%2Fde%2Ftickets%2F19.html%23day73|target:_blank|” button_color_type=”uncode-palette” uncode_shortcode_id=”188712″]Click here to go to the ticket shop[\/vc_button][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The major festival \u201cGrand Meeting\u201d 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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
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