Race Week Wrap – Aliyyah Koloc makes T1 debut in South African Rally Raid Championship Sugarbelt 400, Extreme E driver’s Cristina Gutierrez and Molly Taylor win Rounds 3 and 4 in Scotland, Moto3 and MotoE rider’s Ana Carrasco and Maria Herrera nail vital race-time at Le Mans, and Jamie Chadwick completes Indy NXT Series, Round 3.
The magnitude of Aliyyah Koloc’s achievements at mere 18 years of age is best described as remarkable, rare, and completely unprecedented in terms of women competing in Motorsport. Take 2023 season alone, Aliyyah completed debut race in The Dakar Rally in T3 category, followed by taking 2 wins in opening Rounds of 24Hour Series with Team driver’s, before embarking on major transition to T1 category at South Africa’s Rally Raid Championship last weekend.
Given the enormity of racing at world class level, switching from Off-Road, to circuit/endurance racing, to competing against seasoned male-pro-driver’s in T1, Aliyyah’s ability to handle all that racing brings has to admired by fans and followers worldwide. The sheer courage of conviction that Aliyyah possesses to race with self-belief, confidence, all the while supported by ever-strong-talented Team, has opened new era on what women can achieve against their male counterparts.
Extreme E women driver’s had alot to contend with competing in Rounds 3 and 4 at the former coal-mine site in Dumfries -Galloway, Scotland, not least the gravel-clay wet track, but also penalties and crashes which altered points on the Championship table.
Racing was extreme in Round 3 with British driver Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen (Andretti Altawkilat) taking the lead in the Final Race, only to be relegated to 2nd overall due to time penalty, elevating X44 Vida Carbon Racing driver’s Cristina Gutierrez and Fraser McConnell to top step of podium. Round 4, the following day, meant another clash of the titans – albeit males and females side-by-side, with Australia’s Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen (Veloce Racing) leading the charge, taking the win and Championship points lead with Rounds 5 and 6 on July 8-9.
Spanish rider’s Ana Carrasco and Maria Herrera competed in Moto3 and the opening Round of MotoE at Le Mans, France in the weekend. For Ana, gaining valuable race-time was all important with long season of racing ahead, confirming that the BOE Motorsport rider aims to improve table standings, notching P20 in main race in Sunday.
Switching to Ducati for the new MotoE season, Maria experienced what will be needed to make improvements heading into the 8 Round Series. Positive vibes were felt during racing compared to testing, which will ultimately re-set Maria’s benchmark on what goals she wants to achieve with OpenBank Aspar Team.
Across other side of the world, British driver, Jamie Chadwick competed in Indy NXT Series Round 3, having experienced adjustments needed to adapt to car, circuit racing, and Team. Notwithstanding Chadwick’s success in winning WSeries 3x – 2019, 2020, and 2022, the learning curves prove women behind the wheel face ever-challenging situations to move their respective careers in upward trajectory.
In one weekend, no less than 1 female racing debut T1 category, 12 women competing in all-electric Championship, 2 females racing full line-up of males in Moto3 and MotoE, along with sole female driver in America’s NXT Series, proves beyond reasonable doubt that these women vie for their spot in the limelight racing against their male peers. Rare feat in itself- roll on next weekend.
Header photo: 2023 Extreme E Rounds 3 and 4, Scotland. Image: Catie Munnings.
Words: Sharon Cox.
Comments are closed.