Women’s Motorsport season 2020 is super busy with over 13 disciplines racing over coming 10 months in Europe, America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australisia.
Covering all disciplines with focus on Marketing Women’s profiles along with results involves production of written and visual content on riders, racers and drivers who not only act as role models for up-coming female Motorsport athetes, but also give readers and viewers insight on what it takes to race their chosen sport.
In Bike category, covering all 9 Women competing in Dakar Rally from January 5th – 17th was inspiring to say the least. What these Women achieved, was well out of ‘general conditions of racing’ having to endure long race days, over unhospitable terrain, with top of list to make it to the finish.
Switching to Women competing in WMX Championship, first Round starts on March 1st at MXGP opener at Matterley Basin. 2020 WMX season will certainly ramp up ‘who’s in to win’ with the anticipated return of Italian 6x WMX Champion Kiara Fontanesi. With 2019 WMX Champion Courtney Duncan vying to push play ‘repeat button for 2020’, along with Nancy van de Ven seeking her first ever victory of coveted Women’s MX Championship- the 6 Round Series will certainly be a sizzler.
Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier, and newly recruited Kawasaki rider Amandine Verstappen will add their skills to the mix of pointy end results, with Danish riders Sara Andersen, Line Dam and Yamaha’s Lynn Valk putting much gained knowledge to the test on varied hard-pack and sand tracks.
FIM TrialGP Women’s Champion Emma Bristow will be making all 6x Championship Titles count when she competes in the World Trails 4 Round Series for Women. With Round One kicking off on May 23rd in Czech Republic, followed by Rounds 2-4 in Japan, Andorra and Final Round in Spain- Emma looks set to push fellow competitors to next level.
America’s inaugural GNCC Women’s Series- WXC heralds plenty of high-class performances from Women competitors none more so than 2019 winner Tayla Jones. Pushing the Australian born native will no doubt be America’s Becca Sheets along with fellow Australian MacKenzie Tricker.
Finishing WXC 2019 in 4th place, NZ’s Rachael Archer will be putting fine-tuning of race strategies in place now that her Rookie year is done. Plus, knowing Rachael, time spent on family’s farm back home over NZ’s summer will have built up fitness levels even more than before- deer-hunting, cray-fishing and the odd Marathon race thrown in.
SBK Women’s competitors have plenty to digest, not only racing against male competitors but also carving stake in shrinking funding/sponsorship pie to actually contest Series. NZ’s Avalon Biddle is one of few who garnish strong backing from sponsors to compete in New Zealand SuperBike Championship 5 Round Series. Currently standing 14th Overall in Supersport 600 category, Avalon will put all National and International race experience to the test heading into Rounds 3-5 with Final Round on April 3-4th.
Women’s F3 WSeries certainly proved a massive success in 2019, with the debut Series notching up TV Broadcast views and attracting further sponsorship backing for 2020 season.
The all Women 18 driver Series earnt 2019 top 12 place-getters automatic selection for this season with another 6 Women gaining valuable selection at Ameria, Spain end of last year. Despite critiques on bank-rolling all Women F3 Series, the opportunity for these Women to gain ‘once-in-life-time’ all expenses paid, racing F3 cars – extends odds of Women entering F1 in the future.
And, icing on the cake has to be WSeries securing 2 Races: 6 and 7 at Formula 1 Championship at Austin, Texas and Mexico City. To be included within Formula 1 Series not only ramps up WSeries as part of Motorsport industry but also speaks volumes on the economical return of investment for WSeries backers.
Women in Motorsport Car categories coming soon. Header photo: Laia Sanz Dakar Rally. Photo credit: ASO.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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