Women complete Dakar Rally Stages 1 – 5 with total distance covered of 1,759kms timed – equivalent to racing from London to Rome, or the entire length of NZ. In Bike, Car, Challenger, SSV, and Truck categories, women rider’s, driver’s, and co-driver’s have experienced more time racing consecutive 5 days than in any Championship event in a season, and there are still Stages 6 – 12 to go.
For British rider, Jane Daniels, who has amassed 4x Women World Enduro Championships, and won ISDE Women World Trophy with fellow team-rider’s – the entire 2023 season does not come anywhere close to the amount of time, kms, and physical exertion that Jane, and only other bike rider – Yael Kadshai have experienced in Special Stages 1 – 5.
The Fantic rider has clocked up 24H 55′ 46″ from Prologue to end of Stage 5 in Shubaytah, which on comparison, 2023 Women World Enduro Championship Rounds were completed in 1H 20′ on average, per Round. Even Jane’s first taste of Rally-Raid – competing in Rally du Maroc in October 2023, over Stages 1 – 5 were completed in 22H 56′ 57” at the finish, with Yael finishing in 22H 52′ 54″ confirming both rider’s entry to race Dakar 2024.
Currently standing 55th in Bike General classification, with Yael on 65th position, the next leg of Dakar Stage 6a and 6b in the Empty Quarter will surely test all resolve for both Jane and Yael to keep going at pace, before enjoying some respite on Rest Day in Riyadh on January 13th.
In Car category, Laia Sanz has outclassed all previous performances behind the wheel of Astara’s CR6-T vehicle, in T1.2 class along-side superb navigator – Maurizio Gerini. With total of 18H 50′ 11” completed across Stages 1 -5, the Dakar Legend commands huge respect for transition of race skills having founded her career in Trials World Championship, to Dakar Rally Bike, to successful P2 in 2023 Extreme E Championship.
Currently standing 2nd in T1.2 category, Laia exceeds expectations of table rankings, as does 19 year old Aliyyah Koloc, competing in T1+ category for the first time. Having experienced plenty of learning curves in the early Stages, Aliyyah can now enjoy the harmony she develops between driver and car in the sand dunes of the Empty Quarter, currently standing 32nd.
The driver’s and co-driver’s in The Challenger category have undeniable experience under their helmets, with Spanish driver Cristina Gutierrez leading the women’s line-up in 6th position overall with co-driver Pablo Moreno Huete. Completing Stages 1 -5 in 20H 08′ 56”, cris-tortu has eyes firmly fixed on capitalizing on any opportunities to nudge out competition, given the driver will race with Dacia in Car category for Dakar Rally 2025.
Switching to race a Taurus T3 for Dakar 2024, Dania Akeel has achieved progressive upward trajectory of results, currently standing in 12th position in General classification. With a long liason of 500kms before Special Stage 5, co-driver Rosa Romero, Camelia Liporati, and female pair of Annett Quandt and Annie Seel remained as focused as ever finishing in 22nd, 25th, and 30th positions in General classification.
Having secured Dakar Rally entry from winning 2023 SCORE Baja 500, Sara Price has met each and every challenge presented during Stages 1 – 5, completing the Special Stages in 21H 26′ 37”. Currently standing 5th overall along-side co-driver Jeremy Gray, the American driver has pushed beyond familiar race territory, including managing the length of time racing, and the duration of race days.
As Sara confirms, winning Baja 500 to finally gain the opportunity to race Dakar, was a life-long goal, yet racing in SCORE Baja 500 Pro Stock UTV category – completing the race in 13H 06′ 05” – is really a world-away from what the 31 one year old has produced competing at the pointy end of results in Dakar SSV category.
Equally so for debut driver – Christine Giampaoli, who states: ‘I didn’t realize how hard, and long this race would be…’ yet has managed to stay on top of race-time, clocking 13th position in General classification, just in front of Italian driver, Rebecca Busi, in 16th place. First ever Lithuanian woman to race Dakar – Emilijia Gelazninkiene – has achieved remarkable recovery from early incident, to stand in 21st position overall.
24H 18′ 57” behind the wheel of a truck, would prove to be almighty challenge for any competitors, yet the trio female crew of Anja van Loon, Floor Maten, and Marije Ettekoven have proved otherwise, consolidating their position and status amongst the elite of Dakar, currently standing 12th out of 37 Teams remaining.
Mark these words, steering the Team’s Iveco truck with total weight of 8.500kgs empty, and 9.300 kgs ready to start racing, plus – add in the odds of tipping, and how to flip the beast back on 4 wheels on cambres of soft sand dunes – and such rankings are impressive to say the least.
Heading into Stages 6a and 6b will be another chapter of experiences for all women, adding to yet the massive amount of race-time already clocked up in Stages 1 – 5, with Stages 6 – 12 remaining.
Header photo: Jane Daniels competing in Dakar Rally 2024 Bike Image: Fantic Racing.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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