Cristina Gutierrez joins Neom McLaren XE Team for Extreme E 2024. The announcement comes off the back of the Spanish driver becoming the second only female to win The Dakar Rally in the Challenger category, followed by the presentation of Dacia Sandrider Team line-up of 3 crews, including Gutierrez to spearhead their entry in Dakar Rally 2025.
Busy couple of days for cris-tortu, who in no uncertain terms punches well above her weight, steering her racing career to the upper echelon of Motorsport, at present, and for the future. And, so well deserved, as reflecting on how the now, 32 year old has managed and overcome the myriad of challenges presented on and off track – admiration, respect, and congratulations are in order, recognizing her strength of mind to achieve high-end results from one season to the next.
To elaborate further, it was back in 2019 when Cristina competed in her 3rd Dakar, when incidents abound, stating: ‘”we broke the alternator belt, so we had to replace it with the spare, but that one broke too. We had to cut one in two to cover the last 50 kilometres at almost snail’s pace, but the main thing is that we reached the finishing line this evening. Anyway, I’ll get to the finish even if I have to push the car”’.
Then, in 2020 Cristina shared her thoughts for an article with MXLink: ‘”To race Dakar, I think I am quite a realistic person. The Dakar Rally is such a long race that it is important not to trust a result, and I also like to push myself and always do the best I can. I think attitude and humility are important in a sport like this and especially in a race like this'”.
If ever there was evidence that self-belief, remaining true to one’s values, along with approaching each challenge as an opportunity to learn, Cristina makes tough decision making with exceptional rationality of mind – a prized attribute sought after in the tough world of racing.
And, to recount how Cristina has stayed the course of such principles of thought, take a look at her racing career situation post COVID. As Cristina admits, sponsorship dried up, opportunities to race disappeared, and the arduous task of securing backing was another looming mountain to climb, before any results could be produced.
Stating in an article with MXLink in 2020: ‘”The opportunity to race Dakar this year has really been thanks to the help of Sebastian Loeb. When he became part of the X44 team (Extreme E), where we were teammates he was the one who personally spoke with Red Bull and that is how the opportunity arose. Before that I had no chance to go to the Dakar this year’.
So, coming full-circle – racing with Sebastien Loeb in Dacia Team line-up of driver’s – Cristina embarks on next chapter of her career competing with Neon McLaren XE Team, along-side Mattias Ekstrom. The pair will certainly prove hard to beat, given Cristina won the inaugural Extreme E Series in 2022, coupled with winning Dakar Rally 2024 in Challenger class. Mattias has equal amount of career credentials from success racing DTM, WRC, along with finishing 2nd in Extreme E 2023 with fellow Spanish compatriot, Laia Sanz.
New season brings plenty of new changes, just what Cristina Gutierrez thrives on – watch this space!
Article on Cristina after winning Dakar Rally Stage 1 in 2021: https://mxlink.co.nz/cristina-gutierrez-made-history-winning-dakar-rally-2021-stage-one/
Header photo: Images: McLaren XE Graphics: MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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