Rachel Archer heads into 2023 GNCC WXC Final Rounds leading the Championship table on 255 points. Nailing 6 wins and 3 seconds from Rounds 1 – 9, Rachael holds comfortable standing with 3 Rounds to go. In fact, the Kiwi’s 42 point advantage over P2 placed Korie Steede on 213, could mean the likeable Kiwi, wraps up the Title if finishing 4th or above.
Speaking with Rachael on route, it is evident how much Rachael has grown – professionally and personally in her quest for fulfilling life-long desire to race America’s most prestigous Grand National Cross Country Series.
At 21 years of age, Rachael has not only set goals, achieved results, and won 2022 GNCC WXC Championship, but has also gained valuable knowledge on how to steer her career path in upwards trajectory while simultaneously creating financial sustainability.
From debut entry in GNCC WXC in 2019, to climbing in standings to P2 overall in 2020 and 2021, and overall victory in 2022, Rachael has re-fined all aspects of racing, training, well-being, and mental focus to develop as a rider, role model, and leader on what Women can achieve in Motorsport today.
Take the recent summer break of 12 weeks for example. Rachael could not be content to sit back and wait for the spoils of her hard work to land in her lap once Round 10 kicked in – heck NO – Rach reassessed her weaknesses and then set task of fixing them. From putting in more seat-time – riding motos on varying terrain – to working on transitions riding ruts and rough tracks – Rachael has achieved the goal of maintaining better control of the bike.
As Rachael explains: ‘This year I’ve focused on things that matter the most, meaning more seat-time, rather than slogging away too much time in the gym. In the summer break I kept things simple, working on 2 weaknesses – performing at speed by riding motos and transitions of body and bike over varied ground. I’ve been riding with the Pro guys, and have tried to put myself outside my comfort zone to keep developing as a rider’.
Taken in broader context, in 4 years, Rachael has carefully thought out and planned how to raise her profile as a female rider whose discipline races 2 hours, each Round, across 12 races, from February through to October. Inclusive of objectives has been to showcase her hard work ethic racing US Sprint Enduro Women’s Pro Championship, which Rachael won in June, 2023.
For Rachael, each component of racing affects the result, which is why the formidable rider has worked on the most important aspects of achieving success on the track. As Rachael states: ‘I’ve focused on staying on top of my health this year, managing recovery much better, and making sure my nutrition is planned in advance. Consistency of results has been my main focus for racing, and also pin-pointing exactly what I need from the Team on race-days. I feel I’m not the underdog any more, and have worked on improvement of performance from one race to the next’.
Racheal specifies how improvements have been made – breaking down 2 hour race into laps, where a team-member is stationed to let her know split-times – NOT how good she is going – but who is ahead or behind her. Equally, communications within the Team have improved with rider’s supporting each other to achieve results, along with bouncing off ideas from post race meeting to pre-race choice of lines and passing sections.
And to financial sustainability to race GNCC WXC Championship from one season to the next. Sponsors and industry providers have been hard won. So to has Brand affiliations and pay for all Racheal’s committment, dedication, and determination to race, producing results as worthy as any male counterpart.
Rachael confirms: ‘I definitely would like to see myself as setting a high standard in terms of what women can achieve in paid career racing Off-Road. I have openly pushed to be seen as equal competitor on the track, to raise my profile and establish a platform from which to gain financial endorsements. Racing is faster than previous years, and industry interest has increased for women to race, which has the potential to develop further. I believe, I’ve helped set an example on what women are worth, to the sport, and to Motorsport in general’.
GNCC WXC Round 10 The Mountaineer September 16 – 18. Header photo: Rachael Archer winning GNCC WXC Round 7 Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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