Spain’s Women in Motorsport – Laia Sanz, Cristina Gutierrez, and Daniela Guillen. All 3 women represent a plethora of talented women from the Spanish nation whose expertise behind the wheel and on the bike stretches across FIA and FIM disciplines from the Dakar Rally, Trials GP, Hard Enduro, Women Motocross World Championship, SBK/Moto 3 and Moto E, and the all electric Extreme E Championship.
With such a vast array of exceptionally skilled Spanish women pushing their respective racing careers into new domains, Laia, Cristina, and Daniela display cross section of experience, wisdom, and youthful exuberance to fulfill goals heading into 2024 season.
Already boxes have been ticked for Laia – finishing Dakar Rally 2024 with co-driver Maurizio Gerini in T1.2 category for the innovative Astara Team. Not only has Laia embraced such turn-around decisions to step up from completing Dakar 11x in Bike category – earning the rider Legend status – but has embraced the opportunity to lead the charge towards sustainable racing behind the wheel of Astara’s 02 Concept car.
Laia: “it is an honor to be part of an initiative that prioritizes sustainability during the competition. This year we are using a lighter engine with better performance, and our participation with the astara 02 Concept is entirely emissions-neutral. It is important to participate in competitions like the Dakar Rally while being aware of our impact because it is the footprint we leave for future generations”.
Like minded, and equally committed to engineering sustainability in Motorsport, Cristina Gutierrez commands huge adulation, taking numerous victories during her career, no more so, than winning Dakar Rally 2024 in The Challenger category.
Always inclusive of the close network of people who make racing possible, Cristina relays expression of thought, gratitude, and positivity from one season to the next, taking all challenges in her stride, knowing that each experience brings greater awareness of her strength of character, not only behind the wheel, but in making career related decisions for the future.
Cristina: ‘”It was probably the Dakar where I felt more communion with the team and the car as well as the people who make up my day to day. In this Dakar I always look forward and knew I would have some chance to win the Rally and if it didn’t come up, we were enjoying what we had felt competing this year. When we crossed the finish line I remembered so many people that have been important to me, to see them excited to know my story and all that we have fought. My fight is yours and the shared successes make it that much better'”.
The youngest of the 3 – Daniela Guillen shares similar attributes to her predecessors, notably determination to achieve top results having taken P2 overall in Women Motocross World Championship 2023. At mere 17 years of age, Daniela displayed consistency of results over the 6 Round Series, nailing her first GP win at the Opening Round in Sardinia, followed by another 4 podiums.
With plenty at stake in WMX 2024, notably an additional Round – making it 2 in her home country – Daniela illuminates younger females to pursue their racing career’s no matter what obstacles are placed along the way. Eyes will be watching, when Round 1 gates drop for WMX at MXGP of Spain, on March 24.
Undoubtedly, Spain’s Women in Motorsport are hero’s within their own Nation, racing communities, and the world at large, an athlete to admire, not only for their achievements, but also for their true sense of what matters most – and that is rare.
Header photo: Images: Team’s Graphics: MXLink
Words: Sharon Cox.
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