Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Saudi woman at Dakar Rally
Auto pioneer speeds through the desert
In a country where women have only been allowed to drive cars since 2018, two local participants are starting the Dakar Rally. One of them is Dania Akeel. The 33-year-old wants to inspire others in the legendary desert race. And has a wish.
In the traffic chaos in Jeddah, Dania Akeel always has everything under control. The driving style in the Saudi port city is considered to be brutal, a good overview and strong nerves are essential. “Anything can happen at any time,” says Akeel, “it’s the perfect training for racing.” And thus a good preparation for your greatest adventure to date.
The 33-year-old is one of two women from Saudi Arabia who will take part in the Dakar Rally (January 1 to 14) for the first time – in her home country of all places. Akeel and Mashael Al Obaidan, who both compete in a T3 buggy, are doing pioneering work. After all, women in the Islamic-conservative monarchy have only been allowed to drive a car since June 2018.
Akeel is aware of the special nature of their start. “I feel a responsibility to live up to this fact and to show respect for this role. But too much pressure only hurts,” she says – and hopes to be a role model. She wishes that women in her home country would not look so much at the result, “but see the fact that I do what I love. That I put myself in a situation in which I fail, in which I make mistakes, but can also be successful, “says Akeel.
“Didn’t even have to have an engine”
Akeel, who studied Modern History and Politics in London, has had her driver’s license much longer. Her passion for speed even dates back to childhood. Early on, Akeel took a liking to anything she could do faster than her own legs. It could be cars, but bicycles, skateboards or rollerblades were also sufficient. “It didn’t even have to have an engine,” says Akeel. She was allowed to try it out. There were no reservations in her family. With her father, she often followed Formula 1 on TV, together they saw Michael Schumacher rush from victory to victory in a Ferrari.
Akeel is now advancing her own racing career. She was the first woman to receive a competition license from the Saudi motor sports association SAMF, and in 2019 she took part in a motorcycle superseries in the United Arab Emirates – and promptly became “Rookie of the Year”. After a serious accident, she switched to rallying, where she most recently attracted attention by winning the FIA World Championship in the Cross Country Bajas.
Now the Dakar is imminent. For two weeks it will race over sand and scree at around 135 kilometers per hour. “It’s a great adventure,” says Akeel, which is “mentally and physically a borderline experience”: “I want to enjoy it.” For them, being successful at the Dakar means above all: arriving. “I would like to achieve a top placement. But I’m a newcomer, it’s my first Dakar,” says Akeel: “The competitor in me will keep an eye on the ranking, but first and foremost I want to get to Jeddah.” The rally ends on January 14th where the traffic chaos pushes even experienced drivers to their limits. Dania Akeel is prepared.