Diversity of Women in Motorsport first quarter 2024. In just 3 months of the racing calendar, women have competed across diverse range of Motorsport disciplines standing top step of the podium along with reaching new heights in their respective career pathways.
Most certainly, these women have achieved goals set many moons ago, and in doing so have carved their names in history to be referred to as ground-breaking for the upward swing of women’s Motorsport profiles not seen in previous decades.
Starting with The Dakar Rally 2024. From Legends, to rookies entering the 46th edition of Dakar across Bike, Car, Challenger, SSV, and Truck categories, women defied the odds to race and complete 12 grueling Stages over Saudi Arabia’s inhospitable terrain, producing race performances equal to male competitors.
In Bike category, British rider Jane Daniels mastered the transition from Enduro to Rally completing the grueling race in P48 in General classification from 103 rider’s – the highest standing for a female rookie and only woman to complete Dakar 2024 on a bike.
In Car category, there were multiple first-time-achievements – most notably Buggyra ZM Racing driver Aliyyah Koloc finishing P17 in T1+ category from 31 entrants along with Spanish Dakar Legend Laia Sanz taking P3 in T1.2 category with co-driver Maurice Gerini.
A massive victory was achieved in The Challenger category, with Spanish driver extra-ordinaire Cristina Gutierrez winning the overall prize – the first woman to do so since Jutta Kleinschmidt won in 2001. And, in SSV classification, American debut driver Sara Price took Stage 10 win with co-driver Jeremy Gray, a first for Sara, and a first for women from USA.
Women diversifying their racing skills have embraced opportunities to spear-head their campaigns competing in alternative energy fuel Series – Extreme E and E-Xplorer. Both Series has broadened the scope and scale of women competing within gendered racing Teams, enabling all to further their race skill-set using all-electric powered machines.
Extreme E opened Rounds 1 and 2 in Jeddah with 8 Teams – 2 driver’s a piece – male and female – racing not only for podiums but also for elevating the sustainability of Motorsport within the realms of climate change. All women are aligned with the Series mandate, coupled with Brand associations which have developed over the course of 3 seasons.
Most notably, Neom McLaren Extreme E Team announced that Cristina Gutierrez would be the iconic Brand’s second, only female driver, following the first set by NZ’s Emma Gilmour, and JBXE Extreme E Team announced that Dania Akeel – first women from Saudi Arabia – would be racing the Series following her campaign in The Dakar Rally 2024.
E-Xplorer Round One in Japan pitched 8 Teams – 2 rider’s per Team – male and female racing enduro/obstacle course on electric bikes. The first Off-Road electric motorcycle Series has not only opened windows of opportunity for women to diversify their race schedule – as in the case of Hard Enduro rider Sandra Gomez, and ISDE rider’s Jessica Gardiner and Nieve Holmes, but also offers new experiences for women from differing nationalities and disciplines as is the case for Nocera Francesca (WMX) and Tanja Schlosser (Enduro).
The diversity and inclusivity of Women in Motorsport has extended into formula racing with F1 Academy stepping into a new stratosphere racing 2024 Series Rounds 1 – 7 within Formula One programme. From the get-go such a massive shift in terms of providing 15 female driver’s opportunities to race, gain intel, learn, experience and soak up all inspirational vibes from racing during a F1 weekend cannot be underestimated, nor relegated as just another step up the career ladder for women racing single-seaters.
As witnessed at F1 Academy Opening Round in Jeddah at the weekend, all women operated at ultimate levels of capacity, showcasing their innate talent behind the wheel against equally competitive competition. And, if completing Free Practice, Qualifying session to achieve two best lap times, followed by Races 1 and 2 was plenty to experience, there was additional bonus of endorsement by 10 F1 Teams whose livery on cars, and opportunity to share happenings on track was second to none.
Most certainly, the diverse skills of French driver Dorian Pin came to the fore setting pole and winning Race 1, along with the ever-so-positive attitude of British driver Abbi Pulling, who kept Pin honest, taking Race 2 win. A first for Ferrari Academy driver Maya Weug – taking P3 overall for Round 1, and a first for the following driver’s: Tina Hausmann, Lia Block, Chloe Chambers, and Aurelia Nobels who made the most of their debut entry to race F1 Academy at Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
With the first 3 months of 2024 providing huge diversity of racing for Women in Motorsport – what will the remaining 9 months produce?
Header photo: Images Cristina Gutierrez, Aliyyah Koloc, Abbi Pulling, and Extreme E Graphics: MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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