Spain’s elite Women are winning in Motorsport World Championships, across multiple disciplines and setting a historical precedent for years to come. Facts state, Spanish female rider’s, driver’s, and racers are producing victorious results in greater numbers than previously recorded, in both individual and Team World Championships.
Specifically, the dominating presence of Spanish women on the podium raises awareness on the veracity and strength of mind each of these women possess to attain results in numbers, which over-ride any other nationality of Women in Motorsport. The sheer volume of victories over a myriad of FIM and FIA disciplines not only defies the odds of a Nation producing the greatest number of female winners in Motorsport, but also amplifies the level of committment each female has been willing to reach to achieve the desired results.
Take the results achieved at the weekend of September 20 – 22, 2024. Spain’s women were racing in Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship at Cremona circuit in Italy, in Women’s Motocross of European Nations – individual and Team categories, in E Xplorer Final Rounds 3 and 4 in Switzerland, and Women’s Trials World Championship – Trial des Nations – individual and Team class.
In World WCR at Cremona, Spanish rider’s dominated the top podiums, with Maria Herrera taking R1, Ana Carrasco winning R2, and Sara Sanchez gaining P3 in R1. The overall standings reveal commanding presence of Spain’s elite women, with Carrasco, Herrera, Sanchez, and Spanish rider Beatriz Neila holding top 4 positions overall.
In Women’s Motocross of European Nations, Spain’s WMX Vice-Champion 2024 – Daniela Guillen led the charge for overall victory with fellow team-rider Jana Sanchez, claiming P1 for Spain’s Women’s Team and also P1 in individual Women’s category. In Women’s Trial World Championship – Trial Des Nations – the Spanish trio of Berta Abellan, Laia Pi Ramirez, and Daniela Hernando claimed P3 overall. And Spain’s multi-disciplined rider – Sandra Gomez won the Women’s category overall in E Xplorer Final Rounds in Switzerland, rounding out racing in World Championships for the weekend.
With a total of 9 Spanish women victorious at 4 different World Championships at the weekend, coupled with fellow nation rider – Mireia Badia – winning Women’s Enduro World Championship 2 weeks previous – stats confirm that these Spanish women are a formidable presence against competition. Most certainly, the will power of younger female rider’s to mix up standings amongst more seasoned women racers, speaks volumes on the long-term viability of Spain celebrating women on top of the podium in years to come.
Undoubtedly, these women have achieved goals on the back of Spain’s female legends who have produced victorious results in their respective careers, and also inspired, motivated, and encouraged younger women to pursue their passion to race. Starting with Spain’s Dakar Rally Legend – Laia Sanz. With a total of winning Women’s Trial World Championship 14x, completing 14 consecutive Dakar Rally’s – 11 on bike and 3 in Car category – along with racing Extreme E Series and standing P2 overall in 2024 – Laia is the epitome of success in multiple disciplines.
Equally impressive in status is Cristina Gutierrez. The Spanish driver has gained an impressive career record, becoming the second female to win a Dakar Rally Stage in 2021, followed by an astounding victory – winning Dakar Rally T3 category – The Challenger – in 2024. Currently standing P3 in World Rally Championship, along with racing Extreme E Series – which she won in 2022 with Sebastien Loeb – Cristina stands on the precipice of Spain’s women racing legends forever.
Taken in context, Spain’s women racing at present command utmost deference on the results each has achieved across varied Motorsport disciplines. Crunching the numbers, the nations females dominated 4 World Championships at the weekend representative of the extra-ordinary women who have paved racing career pathways for over a decade. Long may the victories continue, as each milestone achieved cements the rider’s names in the books of Spanish history.
Header photo: Ana Carrasco – World WCR, Mireia Badia – Women’s Enduro World Championship, and Daniela Guillen – WMX. Graphics: MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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