MXLink provides coverage of women competing in varying Motorsport disciplines around the world, elevating status and representation of female’s racing careers within unified Media platform.
As way of highlighting the breadth and scope of coverage, the compilation of women competing in Motorsport Championships 2021 stands below, with current rankings on Series completed, presently racing or awaiting to start. Depth of talent has been highlighted, career results listed along with analysis on how these remarkable women compete on world stage.
The Dakar Rally completed January 2021- Women covered:
#Sara Garcia Spanish rider competing in 3rd Dakar Rally in Original by Motul class finished in 44th position Overall in Bike category and 12th in Original by Motul class in 2021. Only female to race ‘with no assistance’.
#Laia Sanz Spanish rider completed her 11th Dakar Rally at beginning of this year finishing in 17th position Overall Bike category. Laia won Women’s class Overall.
#Cristina Gutierrez made history winning Stage One at Dakar this year racing Lightweight Prototype vehicle with co-driver Francois Cazalet. Completing her 5th Dakar Rally, Cristina was also the first Spanish female to finish The Dakar in Car category in 2017. #Monica Plaza (Spain) has set precedent for 2 consecutive years partnering with her father Manola Plaza in Dakar’s Car category 2020-2021.
#Camelia Liporati – known for her flare of pink that the Italian born-French compatriot brings to an incredible- total of 11 completed Dakar’s. Finishing 16th Overall in Lightweight Prototype category 2021, Camelia remains true role model for pursuing racing career with passion, fierce determination and attitude.
#Annett Fischer (German) has long-time association with Rally, competing with Camelia Liporati in 2020 and 2021 to finish her first Dakar Rally in 16th position. Annett’s skill base, knowledge, mechanical know-how makes for perfect combination of driving the world’s most grueling Rally.
#Taye Perry (South Africa) made debut in Dakar Rally in 2020 completing Bike category in 60th position Overall. Making the switch to Car category as co-driver in 2021, Taye proved force to be reckoned with, pushing Century Racing Team to 7th place over 12 Stages in Saudi Arabia.
#Mirjam Pol (Netherlands) has raced and completed Dakar Rally 8x, producing best performance in 2020 of 41st position Overall in Bike category. Unable to compete in this year’s Dakar, Mirjam raced World Cup Baja in Dubai earlier this year finishing 10th in General rankings.
#Kirsten Landman (South Africa) put all experience, skills, and Enduro race-craft to highest possible use competing in The Dakar Rally 2020. Making debut appearance, Kirsten endured 12 Stages of ‘out of comfort zone’ speed to stand on the closing ceremony podium in 55th place.
#Kristen Matlock (USA) racing with Polaris RZR Factory Racing Team put all experiences competing in Baja Rallies to the test at Dakar Rally 2021. Navigating over unfamiliar terrain, Kristen and co-driver Max Eddy completed the Rally in Dakar Experience category.
#Audrey Rossat and Sara Jugla, both from France made debut race in The Dakar, with Audrey making Stage-by-Stage progress finishing in 59th, and Sara making all experience count even though unable to cross Stage 12 finish line. Sauny Martinez made 3rd attempt to complete Dakar Rally successful, finishing in 10th place Overall in Quad category this year.
FIM Women Motocross World Championship- starts July 2021- Women covered:
#Kiara Fontanesi (Italy) 6x WMX Champion #Larissa Papenmeier (Germany) 3rd 2020 WMX Championship, #Nancy Van de Ven (Netherlands) 2nd 2020 WMX Championship, #Courtney Duncan (NZ) 2x WMX and defending Champion heading into 2021 5 Round Series. #Francesca Nocera 2x Italian Women’s Motocross Champion mixes positions up on the MXGP tracks along with talented generation of riders including: #Lynn Valk, #Shana Van der Vlist, #Line Dam and #Taila O’Hare.
WSeries F3 Championship 2019 completed- 2021 to be raced in co-junction with selected Rounds of Formula One. Women covered:
#Vicky Piria Italian F3 driver who competed in WSeries 2019 placing 9th Overall in 6 Round Series. Having been away from racing for best part of 5 years, this was phenomenal performance.
#Sabre Cook American driver growing up racing Go-Karts to entry level formula cars, gained selection for WSeries 2019 along with scholarship with Infinity Engineering Academy in UK. It was busy year for Sabre, plenty to learn, and opportunities to make most of- which is just what Sabre did finishing 11th Overall in WSeries and gaining automatic selection for following season.
#Caitlin Wood – Australian born, then left home in 2016 to race with Germany’s Reiter Engineering, followed by move to UK where she gained selection to race WSeries in 2019. Known for bubbly personality, it was just 1 point which meant Caitlin would miss out on automatic selection for following WSeries- though the experience and opportunity to race in F3 Championship, fully supported remained invaluable for her working role as driver instructor.
#Emma Kimilainen (Finland) standing 5th Overall, #Marta Garcia (Spain) taking 4th Overall along with winning WSeries E Sports League in 2020, and #Belen Garcia (Spain) who gained selection to race the Championship this year, are all women to follow- both on and off the track.
GNCC (Grand National Cross Country Series) in America- Women covered:
#Rachael Archer – NZ’s first ever female rider to compete in America’s inaugural GNCC Women’s WXC Series with AmPro Yamaha Racing Team. Having gained taste of overseas competition, racing in Australia’s Hattah Desert Race, and a couple of GNCC Rounds end of 2018, Rachael kept her promise to herself to gain Pro-ride for full season by 2019. At 19 years, Rachael stands 2nd Overall in GNCC 13 Round Series 2021, having finished 2nd in Championship in 2020.
#Becca Sheets, #Rachael Gutish and #Tayla Jones showcase depth of talent in what must be described as toughest test of endurance at speed over 2 hour race with GNCC WXC Rounds running from February through to October.
SBK Championships- most notably #Avalon Biddle who made history winning NZSBK Championship 600cc in 2019. Avalon raced in Europe, winning FIM European Women’s Cup Championship in 2015 and 2016. This season, Avalon finished 4th in NZSBK 600cc Championship.
Extreme E – The Electric Odyssey Series- Women covered:
#Molly Taylor (Australian) racing Extreme E Series with Rosberg X Racing had exceptional first Round at Desert X Prix taking the win with Team driver Johan Kristofferson. Stand-out performance from Molly was sheer courage and determination to race a new Championship, in new all electric car, on terrain ‘out-of-comfort-zone’ for a purpose.
#Christine Giampaoli Zonca (Canary Islands) racing for Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team has such endless competitive energy which was more than put to the test at Desert X Prix on April 3-4th. Bringing all important lap times to the points table, Christine and Team rank 5th in the standings heading to Round 2, Ocean X Prix on May 29-30.
#Catie Munnings (British) made magnificent work on handling Andretti United Extreme E Team’s car with a puncture to the switch-over, with Team finishing 3rd after Round One. #Cristina Gutierrez (Spain) made perfect transition from racing The Dakar Rally 3 months prior to gain Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Team 2nd placing Overall. #Laia Sanz (Spain) completed near perfect combo with ace-Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, along with #Sara Price (American), #Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky (Sweden), Jamie Chadwick (British) and Claudia Hurtgen (Germany) displaying all driving prowess in the new era of Motorsport Series.
Header Photo: WMX Champion 2019 and 2020 Courtney Duncan
Words: Sharon Cox.
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