Dakar Rally 2022: Women Are Revving It Up!

The infamous Dakar Rally, one of the longest motorcycle races in the world that see off-road riders and drivers going at it for 12 days across a distance of over 5,000 miles with their motorcycle backpacks, saddlebags and even support crews. The 44^th edition of the Dakar Rally, starting on 2^nd January 2022 spanning all the way to the 14^th, will be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the third time in the event’s history. With the total number of entries at 578, here’s a breakdown of the vehicles involved:

• Bikes: 149
• Quads: 21
• Cars: 97
• 5×5-T3: 44
• UTV-T4: 61
• Trucks: 58
• Classic Cars: 128
• Classic Trucks: 20

With a total of 750 drivers, 209 are rookies (first timers), 130 legends (participating for the 10^th time or more), 34 Original by Motul (riders that compete without a support team) and 60 women.

Teams #40, #98, #100, #117, and #128 consist of women teams competing in the bike category. While our hearts and salutes go out to all the women participating or even joining the 2022 Dakar Rally, here are the names of the most renowned female riders that are sure to deliver a stunning performance:

Mirjam Pol

With #40, Dutch rider Mirjam Pol couldn’t participate in the previous year’s rally due to complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Mirjam has successfully completed 8 Dakar Rallies with her best finish being at the 41^st position in the bike category overall. It’s impossible for anyone familiar with the dangers and risks of the rally to not be amazed by the resilience and bravery this woman has shown, proving that there’s nothing women can’t do.

Sara Garcia

At #98, Sara Garcia, who may not yet be a legend, is certainly a commendable veteran as she’s competed three consecutive times in previous Dakar Rallies in the ‘Unassisted-Original by Motul’ class. Even as she went through the impossible race all alone, becoming the first woman in history to do that, and did it all over again, she managed to cut her result in half, having attained 88^th position in 2020, and finishing at 44^th in 2021.

The Pont Grup Yamaha rider completed 12 stages on unknown Saudi terrain while maintaining her bike every night as she set up her camp all alone to sleep for a few hours before getting back on the road and finishing the race in 2020. Last year, she showed just how much she had learned by finishing the race in 44^th place.

Audrey Rosset

At #100, Audrey Rosset made her debut in the 2021 Dakar Rally and managed to get the 59^th position in the Bike category overall. As a complete stranger to the Dakar, Audrey’s results for the Stages 1-12 were testament to the rider’s skills, experience, determination and downright awesomeness as she started from 92^nd, got to 88^th, then 85^th, crossed over to 76^th, up to 73^rd in the sixth stage, 69^th in the seventh, remained at 69^th in the eighth stage, made her way to 61^st in the ninth and maintained the pace till the tenth stage before getting to 60^th position in the eleventh stage and finishing the 12^th stage at 59^th position.

Kirsten Landman

At #117, South African debut entry in 2020 Dakar Rally, Kirsten Landman is competing this time in 2022 with no assistance or the Malle Moto class after she attained 55^th position Overall in the Bike category the very first time she ever competed in the Dakar Rally. Daring to take on all 12 stages of the Dakar alone, Kirsten states, “All my life I have been challenged, riding a bike is me- living- it is the fear that drives me to the sport. It is a challenge.”

“In Malle Moto, you are out there on your own- you and your bike for 12 days- really pushing your limits- emotionally, physically and technically. I never in my wildest dreams expected to be here- racing 2022 Dakar Rally in Original by Motul class.”

Sandra Gomez

At #128, the Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro rider, the first woman ever to be in the Gold Class, Sandra Gomez is going to be making her debut in the Dakar this year after having competed in World Trails GP and the Hard Enduro World Championships with her team.

Like all motorcycle riders enthusiastic about bike riding, Sandra has also shown her determination to compete and learn as she experiences the Dakar. Other female competitors racing in the Dakar Rally include famous names like Molly Taylor, who will be the first female Australian to compete in the Dakar, and the first Saudi women’s team which is called the Shero Rally Team.