Women competing in up-coming FIM and FIA Championships – who to watch? From racing in Europe to America, the world’s best female driver’s, rider’s and racer’s enter 2023 racing season ready to push their limits on what can be achieved on track against gendered peers on terrain varied in scale and scope – from dirt to tarmac.
For certain, barriers have been broken on what Women have achieved in Motorsport for over a decade, competing in World Championships across multi-disciplines and specialized categories. These females have not only blazed new trails to achieve success in their respective Motorsport careers, but have also inspired younger female athletes to redefine their racing potential both on and off the track.
Take note, women at the higher end of their racing career have made calculated decisions each step along the way in response to changing circumstances which ultimately affect their opportunities to race. Some women have switched disciplines, some have expanded their talents cross-disciplines, some have consolidated partnerships to achieve historical success in specialized categories, and all have engaged fans around the world who are following their respective careers.
The strategies these women have employed remain far cry from the fun-filled days of grass-roots racing on dirt tracks, Go-Kart venues and off-road Rallies in the back country at home. Sure, pure enjoyment of racing is still the ultimate goal for all women, now that feeling of elation when crossing the finish line has just been replaced with navigating all obstacles and challenges to race from one season to the next, amid highly competitive environment both on and off the track.
The following women are set to ramp up their respective profiles competing in FIM and FIA World Championships, taking all those watching on roller-coaster of journey on what females can achieve on track. First up, Britain’s Jamie Chadwick heralds new racing season in America’s IndyCar NXT Series with Andretti Autosport. A decidedly smart move, the 3x WSeries Champion locks in the opportunity to extend her race-craft in circuit racing in America, which compliments the long-term goal of racing in Formula 2 and ultimately F1 Championship.
Staying in the USA, Hailie Degan enters her 3rd full-time season competing in NASCAR Trucks Series with ThorSport. With the Team making the switch to Ford Performance having run Toyota’s for the past two seasons, 21 year old Deegan embraces the opportunity to get behind the wheel for another season, to the sheer enjoyment of her whopping 1.3 million Instagram followers.
Women competing in 2023 Dakar Rally proved beyond all reasonable doubt that female driver’s, co-driver’s, rider’s and crew have all capabilities to compete on level playing field as their male counterparts. In Bike category, Dutch rider Mirjam Pol mastered her 10th Dakar to earn Legend status, while South African rider Kirsten Landman completed phenomenal result finishing Original by Motul class – with No Assistance.
In Lightweight Prototype category, Spanish driver Cristina Gutierrez raced with sheer determination to finish at pointy end of results crossing Stage 14 finish in P4. Debut entry driver’s Anja van Loon along with Buggyra Racing driver Aliyyah Koloc gained impressive results with Anja poised to race Dakar Rally 2024 in Truck category, and Koloc planned race season in 24 Hour Series along with World Rally Raid Championship Rounds.
If Spain’s line-up of Women reigns supreme across disciplines, the talents of @cris-tortu, Laia Sanz, Sandra Gomez, Maria Herrera, and Ana Carrasco sure take a lot of beating for what each has achieved on the track. Heading into 2023 season, Cristina and Laia have already completed Dakar Rally, with both lining up for Round One of Extreme E in Saudi Arabia on March 11-12, along with Sandra recovering from Dakar and making preparations for competing in her multi-discipline calendar of Trials GP, Enduro and Hard Enduro.
Equally on the radar for who to watch will be Australia’s Molly Taylor, having completed 2023 Dakar and racing Extreme E Series, along with America’s Sara Price who has just signed with Can Am. Both these women have made smart, calculated decisions on where to focus their career pathway, who to partner with, and which Championships to race for best possible results.
2023 FIM Women Motocross World Championship will host the 19th edition of WMX with line-up of the best female rider’s competing for the coveted Title. Will defending Champion Nancy Van de Ven make it 2x in a row, or will 6x WMX Champion Kiara Fontanesi who returns after giving birth to her second daughter mix standings up yet again?
There is no doubt, 2023 WMX will bring high expectations for all women rider’s, including younger competitors who have proved their ability against the more seasoned rider’s. Dutch trio Lynn Valk, Shana van der Vlist, and Van de Ven are formidable contenders racing up front, along with NZ’s Courtney Duncan who will be out for vengeance to take her 4th WMX Championship win.
From historical perspective, WMX holds high esteem amongst the great Champions in MXGP, with no less than 5 women crowned WMX Champion over 19 years – Stephanie Laier 2005, 2009 – 2011, NZ’s Katherine Prumm 2006-2007, Livia Lancelot 2008 and 2016, Kiara Fontanesi 2012 – 2015, 2017 – 2018, Courtney Duncan 2019-2021, and Nancy Van de Ven 2022.
In similar light, Britain’s Emma Bristow holds special place in Motorsport history having won Women’s World Trials Championship 8x with Sherco. Proving that consolidating partnerships with Brands, products, and industry providers remains key to realize racing success, Emma represents virtues of achieving sustainable results in ever-changing landscape of Motorsport.
Header photo: Jamie Chadwick competing in 2023 Race of Champions Image: ROC.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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