Mirjam Pol, Taye Perry and Fernanda Kanno Garcia will bring to Dakar Rally 2020 seasoned experience, new up-coming talent and first-taste of Dakar outside Peru home-land for 3 National flag carriers: Netherlands, South Africa and Peru in respective order.
In Bike category Mirjam will embrace 13 years experience racing Dakar along with field support for HT Rally Raid Team. Having halved initial placing of 80th in 2006 to 48th Overall in 2019, #54 has all the professional expertise in her race gloves to not only finish but move up table standings for Dakar 2020.
Taye Perry as first-time entrant has enough zest, energy and keeness to race the International Endurance Rally having gained qualification at Merzouga Rally earlier in year which set in motion all training and preparations to actually make racing the event real.
Fernanda Kanno will compete in 3rd Dakar driving Toyota Landcrusier in Car category along-side her 2019 co-driver Alonso Carillo. Having achieved first-time Peruvian woman to compete and finish Dakar in her home country, Fernanda strikes almighty chord to conquer the Rally on Saudia Arabia’s desert sands.
With all 3 Women putting their fierce competitive spirit to the test, is it any wonder how such an event can draw competitors from all around the world to compete within extreme human-versus-nature conditions over 12 days.
Mirjam Pol is emphatic on what sustains longevity to race Dakar: ‘It causes so much pain but I’ll be back next year‘.
Taye on qualifying at Merzouga Rally: ‘After Stage 5’s sprint of a race through the dunes, I was dying for more. The week of racing has gone by too fast for me, and through all the struggle, during and between stages, on and off the bike, I had so much fun…’
Fernanda is breed on her own- ‘Best love is racing in sand dunes. I love the dunes and that is where I feel most comfortable. I love the desert. For me it is like paradise’.
With just few days left before Dakar Rally 2020 Stage One starts from Jeddah, this year’s female competitors are for sure force to be reckoned with.
Header Photo Taye Perry Photo Credit: Taye- Rally Zone
Words: Sharon Cox.
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