Annett Fischer heads into 2023 Dakar Rally with preparations completed after successful 2022 World Rally Raid Championship campaign with co-driver Annie Seel. From finishing 2022 Dakar Rally Round One in T3 classification in 15th position overall, to best result of 2R Rally Raid Championship of 4th in Abu Dhabi, to completing the final Rounds in Rallye du Maroc and Andalucia Rally for 6th overall, Annett feels well prepared for what lies ahead in 2023 Dakar.
Annett: ‘We are really happy that we could drive the whole World Championship which absolutely wasn’t clear at the beginning of the year. It is always difficult to do all the races. Best race for us was Abu Dhabi. We achieved fourth place overall and we had a really nice race and a lot of fun’.
Taking on board additional race time meant Annett and Annie further developed their working partnership in the car. As Annett states: ‘It’s so important to understand each other and to have a really good spirit in the car. This two-way partnership is really good between myself and Annie. She performed really well as a co-driver and I also think I improved as well.
In these races we learnt a lot more about the mechanics of the car, as we had some issues in some races where we lost time, well hours actually and also positions. I think you grow much better together if you have more problems than when everything is quite easy. In difficult situations we are really sitting well together and having a lot of fun’.
In true Dakar Spirit, Annett embraces the togetherness of Team driver’s, co-driver’s, and crew – particularly with X Raid Team line up for 2023 Dakar Rally inclusive of 5 females – 3 driver’s and 2 co-driver’s. Annett and Annie spearhead the charge with #307, Dakar Legend Camelia Liparoti and co-driver Xavier Blanco with #311 and Merce Marti with co-driver Lisette Bakker pitching #323 on the Team’s Yamaha YXZ 1000R Turbo Prototype cars.
Such huge strides on inclusivity of women in a Team’s line-up for the world’s most toughest race has to be put in context on just how far Annett’s career has evolved. From first Rally race in Quad category in 2009, to 3rd in Merzouga Rally in SSV class in 2018, to debut entry in Dakar in 2019, to racing as co-driver with Camelia Liparoti in SSV in 2020 and 2021, to making history as first female duo to place 6th in 2022 World Rally Raid Championship – the upward journey on the career ladder is impressive.
Annett: ‘I’m really happy that we have so many women now in X Raid Yamaha team. Merce Marti as another complete female team and Camilla Liparoti as a mixed team with Xavier. It’s really a team spirit with all the people fitting nicely together and I’m super happy that I could be part of this great team for Dakar’.
For sure, 2023 Dakar Rally will be the most challenging ever. Starting with Prologue on December 31, followed by 14 days of racing, covering 8,549kms of which 4,706kms will be timed, Annett is under no illusions that Stages 1-14 will be tough. Annett: ‘This Dakar will be definitely challenging. 14 days, really long stages, and 4 days racing in the Empty Quarter will test every competitor. Because I’m really an endurance racer, I’m super happy with this. And then for me and Annie – the strength we have built up this year means we are not anxious about what is coming.
You get the roadbook in the morning, you cannot really prepare for anything, you just go and you solve the problems how they are coming – and you always have problems. It is not that you just start in the morning and you drive to the end of 14 days. It’s really hard for the body, it’s really hard for mental strength.
And there is also luck. I think without luck you will never win. We have a great car at the moment. We have already tested for 8008kms. I think it’s quite reliable and I’m really looking forward to be there and try to achieve whatever I can. I’m really looking forward to the challenge’.
2023 Dakar Rally December 31 – January 15. Header photo: Annett Fischer Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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