Women have completed 2022 Rally du Maroc with incredible physical and mental strength racing Stages 1-5 across terrain unforgiving to the extreme. From dealing with rocky passes, to deep sands of Moroccan desert, Women racing in Bike/Rally 2, T3 and T4 categories have crossed the final finish line with great results.
Taking Stage 4 win in T3 category was Spanish driver Cristina Gutierrez and co-driver Pablo Moreno Huete, the only female to win a Stage in the Rally with the pair finishing in P3 in General classification. The Red Bull Junior Off Road Team built up solid performance backed by dedicated crew in the bivouac, clocking overall time of 16 hours 56 minutes and 3 seconds – mere minute and a half off P2.
Portuguese driver Pamela Bozzano and co-driver Cadu Sachs completed stellar run across Stages 1-5 finishing P9 in T3 General classification, and 2nd female behind Gutierrez. With consistent finishes from Spanish driver Merce Marti and co-driver Rosa Romero Font, the female pair completed Rally du Maroc in P12, a most credible result off the back of debut entry in 2022 Dakar Rally earlier this season.
Dutch driver Anja Van Loon and co-driver Lisette Bakker had everything to gain and nothing to loose competing in World Rally Raid Championship Round 3 finishing P18 overall with the two most calm and grounded pair of Annett Fischer and Annie Seel coming in P19, T3 General category. If there are silver linings for Annett and Annie, it would be all misfortunes of punctures, breakdowns and sheer bad luck have been ticked off list of preparation for racing 2023 Dakar Rally in couple of months time.
Australian Molly Taylor raced with conviction having gained extra knowledge competing in first Dakar Rally earlier this year, pulling off P9 with co-driver Andrew Short. Overall standings in World Rally-Raid Championship after 3 Rounds place Cristina Gutierrez and Pablo Moreno Huete up to P2 and Annett Fischer and Annie Seel in P5, in T3 category.
Dutch rider extra-ordinaire Mirjam Pol claimed first female to finish Rally du Maroc in Rally 2- P20 with amazing performance by Spanish multi-discipline rider Sandra Gomez completing 5 Stages in P22, General classification. French rider Sara Jugla made upward climb in rankings, finishing P73 at end of Stage 5.
In context, these women clocked up over 20 hours on the bike, with Mirjam finishing the 1,500kms in 21 hours, 59 minutes and 52 seconds, and Sandra completing Stages 1-5 in 22 hours, 1 minute and 17 seconds. As Mirjam states:
‘It was tough, really tough, long and hot in Morocco but of course those are the ingredients we can expect in Saudi Arabia. My bike is doing great, I’m very happy with it. I myself have occasionally faced considerable challenges, both physically and mentally. And that is exactly what this competition is for, figuring out what is still lacking and what I still need to work on. But I’m incredibly happy with this win’.
World Rally Raid Championship Round 4 at Andalucia Rally, October 18-23. Header photo: Mirjam Pol, image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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