Who made the first list among 2022 Women in Motorsport? These women rider’s, driver’s and racers are the first to gain a win, the first to break tradition, and the first to set precedent on what female athletes can deliver in ever changing world of Motorsport this year.
Top of the list is Dutch rider Nancy van de Ven who won her first Women Motocross World Championship having finished Vice-WMX Champion 5x. Nancy started racing WMX in 2013 developing pure grit and determination to fulfill goal of winning the Title, notching up 6 GP wins, 18 race wins, 32 podiums, from total of 58 GP’s to nail her first WMX Championship with glory.
Also breaking precedent in 2022 WMX was Lynn Valk who nailed her first GP win at MXGP of Portugal going 1-1 to finish Overall in 2nd place – her best result in 5 seasons. Equally impressive was Daniela Guillen of Spain who won her first race on debut entry in WMX this year, along with Shana van der Vlist who won Race 1 at MXGP of Sardinia in May.
Of huge significance has been Livia Lancelot’s move from owner and Manager of Team Honda 114 Motorsports competing in MXGP/MX2 to operating and managing Honda NILS World Supercross Team in 2022. A first for Livia whose career spans winning WMX Championship 2x, to developing talented riders in EMX, WMX, MX2, and MXGP, to racing inside SX stadiums at World Championship level.
Trials GP Women rider’s Emma Bristow and Sandra Gomez have claimed another first in their respective racing careers. Emma won her 8th Trials GP Women Championship and Sandra won her 8th Trails GP Des Nations with the Spanish Women’s Team this year. Sandra also gained another #1 competing in her first Dakar Rally in January 2022, finishing credible 62nd in General Bike classification.
First all female crew to enter and race 2022 Dakar Rally became a reality with Merce Marti and co-driver Margot Llobera making debut entry in Lightweight Prototype category, fully supported by all female Team of mechanic, engineer, and technical staff.
Female duo of Annett Fischer and Annie Seel completed first time ranking in 2022 World Rally Raid Championship racing in all 4 Rounds, and currently standing P5 with Final Round of Andalucia Rally kicking off on October 18-23.
Spanish driver Cristina Gutierrez has again broken tradition, gaining first female to stand 2nd Overall in 2022 World Rally Raid Championship in T3 category with co-driver Pablo Moreno Huete, Final Round at Andalucia Rally in 2 days time. Australian Molly Taylor completed first for her career, entering and racing 2022 Dakar Rally and Rally du Maroc in T4 category finishing top 10 in Morocco with co-driver Andrew Short.
Jamie Chadwick made history winning her 3rd WSeries Championship having nailed most wins in the all-female single-seater Series over 2019, 2021, and 2022 season. Fellow British driver Abi Pulling claimed a first for her career, taking P2 in Round 2 at Barcelona followed by P3 in Round 3 at Silverstone.
Spanish driver Belen Garcia gained most deserved first podium in 2022 WSeries Round 4 at Formula One Grand Prix of France, with Nerea Marti ramping up her profile claiming first 2 podiums of the season: P3 at Race 2 in Miami followed by P3 in Round 4 at France.
With less than 3 months to go before Women complete 2022 Motorsport season, there will be a few more firsts to add to the list of female accomplishments this year.
Header photo: Nancy van de Ven 2022 WMX Championship. Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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