Women have consolidated results in the Dakar Rally after Stage 3 in Bike, Car, Challenger, SSV, and Truck categories. Proving patience, consistency, and bucket loads of sheer will power to venture forth on Day 3 of 12, women posted results on level playing field as their male competitors to reach the first part of the Marathon Stage in Al Salamiya.
With total of 733kms completed, including 438kms timed, all rider’s, driver’s, co-driver’s, and partial service crew had only 2 hours to carry out mechanical repairs before all bikes and vehicles were enclosed in parc ferme until the morning, for Stage 4, January 9.
Racing over varied terrain from rocky passes, to sand dunes, to navigation of waypoints, British rider Jane Daniels locked in stellar performance finishing Stage 3 in 54th position. With 133 rider’s in total – remaining – Daniels and only other female rider Yael Kadshai have proved their enormous capabilities on debut, with Yael securing 71st place in time of 6H 29′ 46″.
With massive amount of experience under her helmet, Spanish driver – Legend of Dakar – Laia Sanz took the cautious approach with co-driver Maurizo Gerini, completing SS3 in 31st position, in General classification. Knowing there were only 2 hours for mechanical repairs, the no punctures and no surprise break-downs was preferable to start the next day in a solid position.
Wasting no time on what happened yesterday, 19 year old Aliyyah Koloc plucked up all courage and self belief to deliver fine performance in T1+ category, finishing SS3 in 29th position with co-driver Sebastien Delauney. Describing the break-down of the Team’s car during Stage 2 as disaster on steroids, the phenomenal duo kept their wits, with Sebastien repairing the issue, and both steering the vehicle in the dark, on 2 wheel drive over dunes, to reach the bivoauc in time for re-fresh on Day 3.
The temperature is heating up in the Challenger category with Spanish driver Cristina Gutierrez and co-driver Pablo Moreno Huete utilizing all their experience, skills, and smarts to complete SS3 in 4th position. A mere 9′ 59 seconds separated the top 4 on Day 3, with all 4 on board Taurus T3 Max vehicles, and all fixing their eyes on the top prize.
In a nice display of stamina and perseverance, Saudi’s Dania Akeel and co-driver Stephane Duple piled on the momentum to take 7th position in SS3, 5 minutes short of Gutierrez. Equally, Dakar Legend Camelia Liporati sliced up the ranks to seal 25th and co-driver Marta Plaza completed SS3 in 29th position with her father, Manuel Plaza as driver. At time of writing, there was still no word on Annett Quandt and Annie Seel’s results.
The American sensation, Sara Price outshone with precise accuracy on completing Stage 3 in 4th position with co-driver Jeremy Gray. The South Can-Am Racing driver has certainly delivered eye-opening amounts of talent, skill, and expertise behind the Team’s Can-Am Maverick TRS Turbo vehicle, on debut, completing SS3 06′ 47″ shy of Stage 3 SSV winner.
Two rookies have continued to produce excellent performances with Christine GZ and Lithuanian driver Emilija Gelazninkiene finishing SS3 in 16th and 20th position respectively. Slotted in between is Italian driver – Rebecca Busi – pushing the max button with co-driver Sergio Lafuente, completing SS3 in 17th place, and consolidating her General classification in 16th position.
The all female crew of Anja van Loon, Floor Maten, and Marije Ettekoven laboured the Team’s truck over terrain more suited to camels than heavy-weight beasts, finishing SS3 in 15th position. Having already clocked up total of 18H 24′ 24″ in 3 days, the Dutch trio have more challenging days ahead, with the end of the Marathon Stage and beginning of CHRONO 48H in Stage 6. Completing the female line-up in Truck, was Margot Llobera as co-driver, finishing SS3 in 23rd position, with her Fesh Fesh Team.
Plenty of racing action ahead, with challenges par of the course. Stage 4 begins in Al Salamiya to Al Hofuf with total of 631kms including 118kms timed. Then, entering the Empty Quarter looms, in Stage 6 on January 11 and 12.
Header photo: Cristina Gutierrez Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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