2022 Dakar Rally numbers are out for Women competing behind the wheel in Car, Lightweight Vehicle and SSV categories. And what an exciting line-up of female entries there are pushing 11 in driver and co-pilot seats, and setting levels of anticipation on the extreme heading into Prologue on January 1st 2022.
First up on bib numbers is Taye Perry #210, nationality South African, debut race in 2020 Dakar finishing 60th in Bike category followed by 2021 Dakar Rally Overall 7th in Car T1.3 petrol-2-wheel drive category. Pairing with Dakar Rally legend 2x over- Cyril Despres, the feisty, courageous co-pilot will hail all mary of gods to beat previous results in Saudi Arabia come January 2022.
Laia Sanz #238 needs no introduction of profile competing in The Dakar. Legend of 10 Dakar’s, top female for 10 consecutive Dakar’s, all in Bike category and making the switch to Car competition for 2022 Dakar.
Sanz remains the world’s most outstanding female athlete with 2021 season bringing host of top results namely taking 2021 Trial GP Women Championship after 8 year hiatus, competing in 2021 Extreme E Series with Carlos Sainz along with finishing 2021 Dakar Rally Bike category in 17th position Overall.
Spanish elite driver Monica Plaza #257 joins her father Manalo Plaza for 3rd consecutive year completing 2021 Dakar in Car T1.3 Petrol 2-wheel Drive category in 9th position Overall. French couple Marie-Laure Quinet #285 will realize a long-held goal of competing The Dakar with her partner Herve Quinet- true inspiration to say the least.
Re-writing history in 2021 was Cristina Gutierrez #301 who became first female to win Dakar Stage since Jutta Kleinschmidt won Car category in 2001 and Stage win in 2005. Completing 2021 Dakar in Dakar Experience category due to mechanical break-down, Cristina has in real terms had one-hellava year sustaining 2 fractures in her back during final stage of Kazakhastan Rally.
In truly amazing push through-out recovery process, Cristina lined up to compete in her paired driver role in 2021 Extreme E Series in August, with X44 Team currently standing 2nd Overall.
Dakar Rally legend Camelia Liparoti #311 holds outstanding record of completing 11 Dakar’s in Quad and SSV categories. Known for her Italian/French pink flair on and off the track, Camelia sets precedent on breaking barriers on women achieving highest possible results in the world’s most grueling off-road race.
Paired with Annett Fischer for previous 2 Dakar’s Camelia takes on board Manuel Lucchese with much anticipation of capping off 12th Dakar finish at Jeddah on January 14, 2022.
High praise goes to Annett #321 for nailing all important driver position in 2022 Dakar making the determined German driver an all female crew with co-pilot Annie Seel. Rounding out double female Team entries goes to Merce Marti and Margot Llobera #356 setting new bench-mark for female competition in The Dakar.
Huge congratulations to Australia’s Molly Taylor #408 for gaining coveted seat racing 2022 Dakar Rally for first time- bet that was big box ticked! Molly is one talented female driver, Australian Rally winner and leading the table board in 2021 Extreme E Series with Rosberg X Racing Team.
Massive line-up of the world’s most talented, skilled, determined female drivers vying for best possible performance in 2022 Dakar Rally. Prologue: January 1st, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia. Stages 1-12 January 2-14 finishing at Jeddah.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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