Used to be. Those days are gone.
Racers like Jutta Kleinschmidt and Cristina Gutiérrez have repeatedly proved that the sport takes not only muscle, but also mind and willpower.
Yet, despite their prolific achievements, less than four per cent of 790 competitors at this year’s Dakar Rally were female. Much of this is thanks to the race itself.
To start with, the Dakar Rally is a logistical nightmare that includes securing finances, marshalling resources, and processing 12-months-worth of paperwork. Coupled with cultural stigma, lack of support and challenging terrain, the Dakar Rally often remains a tough-to-achieve dream for women racers.
For many, the start line of the race comes at the end of a long, cruel race against culture, society and family. Mashael Al-Obaidan and Dania Akeel, the first female duo to compete from Saudi Arabia in 2021, are prime examples of this.
But each woman on the starting line makes her mark — her presence is an inspiration to countless others. And it is this inclusion that can help bridge the gender divide in motorsports across the world.This can be further helped by hosting women-only races, women-specific sponsorship and enabling women racers with resources to get better. Partnering with existing women-focused organisations, such as the Women’s Sports Foundation and Girls in Motorsport, could also create initiatives specifically tailored to increase female participation in motorsports. And fans will respond! This is evident when we look at cricket, where the recent women’s IPL announcement has garnered great enthusiasm among viewers.
After all, in sports the rules are the same for everyone.
As for the Dakar Rally, things are even more lateral. The competition isn’t even divided into gender categories. The terrain is equally unforgiving for all. It is simply a matter of skill and efficiency. That’s why womenspecific initiatives are not to put female racers at an advantage, but to increase their visibility and attract more of them. They aim to remove the barriers, eliminate prejudices, promote values of perseverance, hard work and will, as only sport does best. They attest that dreams can be achieved. Because those who have immersed themselves in what is considered to be the most gruelling racing event on the planet, know that even finishing the Dakar Rally is a victory in itself. The win is a bonus.
The writer is Extreme Rally driver & a freelance journalist
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