Stage 1 is complete for women racing Rally du Maroc in Car, Bike, Challenger, and SSV categories. Stand-out performances on the first leg of 5 Stages were Cristina Gutierrez taking P6 in Car – Ultimate category, Sandra Gomez posting P33 in Bike, Dania Akeel taking P5 in Challenger, and Rebecca Busi placing P5 in SSV.
Not even the disruption of the change in route due to rain impacting Stage 1 tracks could affect the focus of all women – whose main objective was to clinch best possible times on Day 1. Covering a total distance of 380kms for Bikes, and 378kms for Cars – with 180kms timed for rider’s, and 178kms for driver’s – the performance of women was smart, strategic, and deliberate – as there are 4 days to go.
In Bike category, Fantic Racing Rally Team rider – Sandra Gomez was on point finishing Stage 1 in P33 in 3:15:13. ”A very tough and hot 180km special. I’m happy with how I managed it, again navigating, concentrating on the tracks that weren’t very visible. I started quite far behind and I overtook some riders. I got into my rhythm and stayed in it until the finish line, getting used to my new bike and the electronic tablet”.
Noting that the digital road-book is now mandatory for all competitors, rider’s in bike category have only their individual capabilities to rely on, navigating at a pace consistent to performance standings over terrain which changes from rocky sections, to sand dunes. Rally 2 rider – Carla Scaglioni – put her skills to the test completing Stage 1 in P82 in 4:39:01 and British rider – Stephanie Rowe – edged her way up the standings from finishing Prologue in 108th position to completing Day 1 in 87th.
The only 2 women competing in Car – Ultimate category – produced performances equal to their male competitors. Dacia’s driver Cristina Gutierrez set the fastest pace through kms 42, confirming that her debut entry in Car from winning The Dakar Rally Challenger category in 2024 was a precursor for future victories in the premium classifications.
Gutierrez completed Stage 1 in P6 in 2:21:24 with Buggyra ZM Racing driver Aliyyah Koloc making smart work from posting P21 in Prologue and finishing Stage 1 in P14 in 2:35:17. Cristina: “‘We are happy because we are in a good position, with good pace. Pablo did an amazing job. It’s the first time we have done a proper Stage in T1+”‘.
In T3 category – The Challenger – Saudi’s Dania Akeel produced a masterful performance finishing Stage 1 in P5 in 2:26:29 with Franco Sport’s driver – Maria Gameiro taking P37 in 5:39:14. For OnlyFans Racing driver Rebecca Busi – making most of all learning from Prologue came in handy, with the Italian driver based in Chile posting P5 in 2:48:13 in SSV category.
Rebecca: “‘Short but pretty intense internship today, we recovered 32 positions overall, which was my only concern for the day. Tomorrow we start early and the track won’t be hell like today. I had to find the right step in the dunes which is where I lost time. The race is still long, and tomorrow we are ready to fight”.
Rally du Maroc Stage 2 Zagora – Zagora Octobre 8. Header photo: Cristina Gutierrez and Rebecca Busi Images: Dacia and OnlyFans Racing Team
Words: Sharon Cox.
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