Top 10 Women in Motorsport Championships for 2023. The list has been compiled based on the following criteria: how each Championship has provided women driver’s, rider’s, and racer’s opportunities to achieve levels of performance which elevates their racing profiles along with stimulating forward trajectory for their respective career pathways.
Starting with #1 spot going to The Dakar Rally. Having established kudos as the pinnacle of Off Road Rally events from the founding year in 1979, and now Round 1 in Rally Raid World Championship, the most physically demanding race provides the ultimate opportunity for women to perform at their utmost ability racing over the course of 16 consecutive days.
In diverse number of categories from Bike including Original by Motul, Car including sub-categories, Quad, The Challenger renamed for T3, T4, Truck, and Classic, women race on level playing field as their male counter-parts with trophies awarded to the illustrious few who cross the finish line after Stage 12.
Most certainly, to accomplish entry followed by racing The Dakar is no mean feat. The qualification process is rigorous, financial endorsement next level, and training and mental fortitude beyond reproach. For the 50 plus women who have achieved such milestones, the breadth of recognition and acknowledgement of completing Dakar ramps up future sponsored races within similar or cross disciplines.
#2 spot goes to Women Motocross World Championship. The 5/6 Round Series has risen in status from the founding year of Women’s Motocross World Cup in 2005, providing the best female MX rider’s 10/12 races run within the World Motocross Championship.
In 2023, women competing in WMX produced unprecedented levels of performance with mix of seasoned rider’s and debut entry women taking podiums on terrains as diverse as sand, loamy dirt, and hard pack. With full gate line-up of 40 rider’s, women have the potential to not only showcase their race-craft, skills, and mental tenacity to compete against the best female MX rider’s in the world, but also elevate awareness of Brands, sponsors, Team partner’s, and industry provider’s to fans and followers alike.
#3 and #4 spot goes to the Championships of America’s GNCC WXC and ISDE Women’s World Trophy. Each Championship provides women opportunities to develop their cross-country racing skills from regional to International level, across 13 Rounds for GNCC WXC, and National Teams of 3 women for ISDE. For these women, developing race performance over 2 hour plus races for GNCC WXC, and 6 consecutive days of racing for ISDE – including managing all bike maintenance – means delivering results which highlight rider ability along with Brand – Team – and gear endorsements.
#5 spot goes to Extreme E. The all-electric Series, founded in 2021, has promoted a new era of racing with gendered driver’s across 10 Teams, raising awareness of sustainability in Motorsport within environments affected by climate change.
The 10 women competing in 10 Rounds have aligned their career pathways towards the progressive nature of the Series based on alternative energy sources, which as recently announced will diversify further into Extreme H Series, in 2025. All women have enhanced their racing skill set which has extended their portfolio’s from Rally and Endurance racing to competing in all-electric car Championship.
#6 and #7 spots go to Trials Women World Championships/Trials Des Nations and Hard Enduro World Championship. Both Championships have established longevity on the FIM calendar, with women competing in Regional, National, and International events as either individuals or Team rider’s.
Without exception, women competing in either or both Championships have developed skills which not only compliment the Brand and Manufacturer of bike, but also represent the breadth of use over terrain from tracks, to rocks, to steep uphill’s and downhills – all within sections timed and marked on completing passes with few mistakes as possible.
#8 spot goes to combined Moto3 and MotoE Championships which only have 2 female competitors racing in 2023. Marginally represented in female entries, yet commanding highest profile within MotoGP arena, both Championships require massive input of resources and results to retain women within Team set-up from one season to the next.
#9 spot goes to F1 Academy Series. Founded on the back of WSeries, which ended after 3 seasons, the all-female single-seater Championship gained additional kudos running with Formula One support in 2023, which has been continued into 2024 season.
The 15 grid line-up of women across 5 Teams, competing in 7 Rounds with final race at Formula One United States Grand Prix has provided rare opportunity for all women to hone their race-craft in front of global audience. For certain, given the huge financial resources required for any driver to race – albeit F4/F3/F2 and F1 – plus the hugely competitive nature of the arena – F1 Academy has served to close such a gap. Whether, the Championship acts as a precursor for women to realize upward mobility to race in F3/F2 and F1 will be wait and see approach.
#10 spot goes to America’s Indy NXT Series which has provided sole female entry an opportunity to gain leverage in the open wheel discipline, on the back of winning WSeries Championship in Europe. Categorized as America’s developmental racing Series, renamed Indy NXT from Indy Lights, fact remains, women have options available to transition from F4 Championships in Europe, to Indy NXT with long-term goals of racing IndyCar Series in the future.
Rounding out analysis on top 10 Women in Motorsport Championships in 2023 highlights the importance of realizing what each Championship offers – at present and for the future – what each Championship provides in terms of elevating women’s profile’s, and what each Championships represents for the driver’s, rider’s, and racer’s seeking progression in their respective racing careers.
Header photo: Dania Akeel and Taye Perry competing in 2023 Dubai International Baja Image: @mchphotocz
Words: Sharon Cox.
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