The Women of Dakar - 2021

It has been almost a month since the Dakar Rally of 2021 began and a fortnight since it ended. The truth is that I miss it already. The excitement, the nail biting moments and the solidarity of the enduro sports and more. Hence, this is my attempt to shine a little light into the world's toughest rally till date.

The Dakar Rally has been fascinating me for nearly a decade now. The fascination was pure simple - the relationship between the ride and rider was the sole focus in this endurance masterpiece of the rally world. In the recent years, my interest has been piqued by the home grown talent that has entered the gruelling race. From Aravind KP in the Sherco Racing company and CS Santosh sponsored by the Hero MotoCorp teams, Indians are entering the race one by one. This year even witnessed Harith Noah become the first Indian to complete in the top 20 as the cap of first to complete Dakar was taken by Santosh in 2018. 

#44 Sanz Laia (esp), Gas Gas, Gas Gas Factory Team, Moto, Bike, action during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2021 

between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI

Laia Sanz

Despite the rally being a man’s venture into adventure, the josh of the race belongs to the women. My attention was first captured by Laia Sanz a few years back. The gritty Spaniard completed her 11th Dakar Rally this year when she just got out of nursing herself from a bad crash in 2020. She was cautious in her pace with the goal of completing the race more than winning. The 35 year old rider finished 17th overall in the motorcycle category. Adding the 2021 result, Sanz marks her 8th time within the top 20 overall and also becomes the most successful woman in motorcycle rallying history. 

Bike Model: 450 Rally

Best Dakar Result: ninth overall in 2016

Notable Achievements: Consecutive 11-time Dakar finisher, 13-time Women’s Trial World Champion, 10-time Women’s Trial European Champion, five-time winner of Spain’s female team in Trial des Nations, one-time winner of the Women’s Enduro World Championship.

#98 Garcia Sara (esp), Yamaha, Pont Grup Yamaha, Original by Motul, Moto, Bike during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2021
between Wadi Al Dawasir and Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia on January 6, 2021 - Photo Horacio Cabilla - A.S.O./H.Cabilla

Sara Garcia

The Moto Malle, currently known as the Original by Motul is the creme de la creme of the Dakar Rally. The “Original by Motul” category is by far the toughest category in the competition and  refers to bikes and quads competitors competing without any kind of assistance. Sara Garcia made history in 2019 by becoming the first woman to participate in the category. The Spaniard and 30 year old mechanical engineer with a smile on her face has also successfully completed the race in 2020 and 21. 

Bike Model: Yamaha WRF450

Best Dakar Result: 44th overall in 2021

Notable Achievements: Three-time Rally TT Spain Champion, 2017 women’s FIM World Cup holder, 2o2o FIM World Cup Ladies’ runner-up

#102 Jugla Sara (fra), KTM, Team Baines Rally, Moto, Bike, action during 

the Dakar 2021’s Prologue and start podium ceremony in Jeddah, 

Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2021 - Julien Delfosse / DPPI

Sara Jugla

Bikes and cars are the most popular categories. Therefore, it is not a surprise that there are many competitors in these categories. Next is Sara Jugla. The French woman’s debut in the 2021 Dakar Rally saw her compete only till stage 6 but thanks to the Dakar Experience section, she completed the race. This gives us hope that we will be seeing her in the next edition!

Bike Model: KTM 450 Replica

Best Dakar Result: This is Jugla’s first Dakar Rally.

Notable Achievements: 2020 female champion at Rallye d’Andalousie, 2020 New Aquitaine champion, 2017 and 2019 runner-up French Sand Champion

Audrey Rossat, first French woman - finisher of the new edition of DAKAR Rally - Kenny Racing

Audrey Rossat

Audrey Rossat has been racing for years, but 2021 marks her first-ever participation in the Dakar Rally. She has physical training from several cross-country championships and from a stint with her country’s police training academy. She finished 59th overall, making it an impressive achievement for the rookie French woman. 

Bike Model: KTM 450

Best Dakar Result: 59th overall in 2021

Notable Achievements: 2016-2018 French cross-country champion, 2014 European endurance champion, four-time World Team endurance champion

#177 Martinez Suany (bol), Can-Amn Team Can Am Martinez, Quad, 

action during the Dakar 2021’s Prologue and start podium ceremony 

in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2021 - Julien Delfosse / DPPI

Suany Martinez

Other than bikes and cars, a unique category in the Dakar Rally are the quads. Suany Martínez was the first woman from Bolivia to ever compete in the Dakar in 2017. She comes from a racing family with her father Leonardo competing in the quads 2013 and 2016 along with her brother Diego in 2013. Despite a rocky start with mechanical problems in 2017 and a crash in 2019, she has persevered to the 2021 race. The spirited cosmetologist completed 10th overall in the 2021 race and is looking forward to the Dakar challenge in the coming years. 

Quad Model: Can-Am Renegade 850

Best Dakar Result: Abandoned rally during stage 7 in 2018

Notable Achievements: 2020 National Casualty Champion and South American runner-up in 4x4 quads. 

#387 Gutierrez Cristina (esp), Cazalet François (fra), OT3, Red Bull Off-Road Team USA, 

Light Weight Vehicles Prototype - T3, action` during the 10th stage of the Dakar 2021 

between Neom and Al-Ula, in Saudi Arabia on January 13, 2021 - Florent Gooden / DPPI

Cristina Gutierrez

The next category in the Dakar Rally is the SxS (Side by Side). Previously known as the SSV or the UTV, the car category is one of the oldest categories in which women participated. Starting from the racing legend Jutta Kleinschmidt, the tradition is being continued by Cristina Gutiérrez among others. She is set to compete in the Extreme E championship alongside Sebastien Loeb in Team X44, but she’s getting a taste of the Dakar Rally before she does. A former dentist, this will be her fifth consecutive outing at Dakar, where the Spaniard is once again expected to perform well.

Co-Driver: François Cazalet (FRA)

SSV Model: OT3 - 01

Best Dakar Result: 38th place overall in 2018, highest placed female driver in 2018

Notable Achievements: Six-time Spanish Women’s Champion, female winner of Sealine Cross-Country rally in Qatar (2016), runner-up in 2015 Spanish Rally Championship.

#391 Liparoti Camelia (ita), Yamaha, X-Raid Yamha Racing Rally Supported Team, 

Light Weight Vehicles Prototype - T3, portrait during the shakedown of the Dakar 2021 in 

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on December 31, 2021 - Florent Gooden / DPPI Media

Camelia Liparoti

Keeping up with the dexterous competition is Camélia Liparoti who has competed in the Dakar Rally in the quads and SxS categories. The Italian is a certified Dakar and rallying legend with over a decade of experience under her belt. With her small stature, pigtails, and pink cars, she is badass who is hard to miss. When not behind the wheel, she is a photojournalist in France and an avid mountaineer. 

Co-Driver: Annett Fischer (DEU)

SSV Model: Yamaha YXZ1000R

Best Dakar Result: Ninth in the quad category in 2012, first woman to win female overall standings in quads in 2013

Notable Achievements: Six-time Women’s World Rally TT Championship, first woman to win a round of the Rally of Pharaohs (2009).

#409 Matlock Kristen (usa), Polaris, Polaris RZR Factory Racing, Motul, SSV Series - T4,
portrait during the Dakar 2021Õs Administrative and Technical scrutineering in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from January 1 to 2, 2021 - Eric Vargiolu / DPPI Media

Kristen Matlock

In Baja, she’s known as the Iron Woman, and Kristen Matlock is looking to take that reputation with her in her first-ever Dakar Rally. On the last Baja 1000, she drove from start to finish in around 28 hours. On the Baja 500, she drove for 21 hours only stopping to refuel cementing her title as the Iron Woman of the Rally World. The American began racing with her husband—against whom she’s competing at Dakar—and found her passion. 

Co-Driver: Max Eddy Jr. (USA)

SSV Model: Polaris RZR

Best Dakar Result: This is Matlock’s first Dakar Rally.

Notable Achievements: 1st in the Baja 500 and 4th in the Baja 1000 in 2020

#202 Lerner Amy (usa), Bossaert Sara Carmen (bel), Porsche, Al Rally, Dakar Classic, action during the 8th stage
of the Dakar 2021 between Sakaka and Neom, in Saudi Arabia on January 11, 2021 - Photo Gustavo Epifanio / Fotop - Fotop

Amy Lerner

For the first time, the Dakar Classic is running simultaneously with the overall event, and Amy Lerner is ready to take on the challenge in what may be the most watched-for car during the event. Daughter of an antique car collector, she’s been competing in all-female rally events since 2011 and this year she is taking on Dakar by its horns in an absolutely gorgeous Porsche.

Co-Driver: Sara Carmen Bossaert (BEL)

Classic Model: Porsche 911 SC 3.0L

Best Dakar Result: This is Lerner’s first Dakar Classic Rally.

Notable Achievements: Mint 400 and Rebelle Rally competitor

With each year, I hope this Dakar spirit multiplies in women and we get to see more competitors, champions and overall daredevils in the rally and endurance world.