Nearly four years after a royal decree granted women the right to drive and obtain driving licenses in Saudi Arabia, Rally Jameel was established as the first navigation off-road rally for women in the Kingdom and the region. Now in its second iteration, the motor sporting event has received applications from more than 70 teams from around the world – double that of last year – underpinning the growing appetite for women-led initiatives in the Kingdom.
Part of Saudi Vision 2030, the off-road Navigation Rally brings teams of two women using basic off-road cars and state of the art navigation equipment to compete through hidden Waypoints to collect points on a pre-defined route across the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia. The Rally is initiated by Abdul Latif Jameel Motors and Bakhashab Motorsports, sanctioned by the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and supported by the FIA, through their Women in Motorsport (WIMC) program.
Maha Al-Hamali, a Saudi national who worked in the private sector for years before participated in the Rally’s 1st edition, had never participated in a rally before joining the team in last year’s iteration. She went on to become the 3rd place winner and is now sponsored by Abdul Latif Jameel Motors.
“My experience was a mixture of enthusiasm, love of adventure, preparation and many surprises due to my lack of experience,” Al Hamali says. “But I discovered that dominance is illusory, and that sport does not require masculine characteristics.”
This year, participants from more than 16 nationalities have applied to compete in what many participants describe as an adventure, set to take place from March 7th – 11th. The women’s only rally attracts participation from around the world, including the USA, the UK, Spain, Poland, Germany, Australia, Sweden, Italy, France, Syria, Oman, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, and Algeria. The list of countries participating cements the rally’s international status.
Swedish professional rally driver and second time participant in this year’s edition, Annie Seel, came in 1st place in last year’s edition, underpinning the Rally’s international interest and growing appeal.
“Last year I did not know what to expect as it was my first time participating in a rally that challenged my navigational and precision driving skills,” says Seel, an experienced motorcyclist who has participated in rally’s from all over the world. “Winning was not easy even though I’m an experienced rally driver, which is why I’m back this year. I look forward to re-joining the rally’s all-woman spirit.”
This year’s route has been extended to 1,600 km, passing through some of the Kingdom’s most diverse and breathtaking terrains. Starting in AlUla, Teams will drive through a striking course on their way to Hail, ending the three-day ride in AlQassim – a journey that traverses the Kingdom’s untouched and barely discovered terrains.
The rally has also created opportunities for emerging aficionados in motor sporting, including Dr. Fatima Banaz, a surgeon with two patents for surgical devices and a mother of two. “I have multiple hobbies, but motorsports have been my passion since childhood and I always loved the speed and the challenge,” she says.
Dr Banaz adds that Rally Jameel has helped her create new connections and build a huge group of friends that share the same passion. Her participation also led to her being part of the medical team in the Dakar Rally. “Being in the hot spot as a driver has helped build my experience and confidence,” she adds. “I now aim to become a professional and create a track record of success to attract sponsors.”
The Rally has similarly opened doors for Al-Hamali, who is currently preparing to participate in the Qatar International Rally for the Middle East Championship by next March, which will be her first rally outside of Saudi Arabia.
Since the 2017 royal decree came into effect, many of the participants have iterated the smooth transition to driving in the Kingdom on a national scale. But a few challenges remain. “I personally offer encouragement, advice, support and guidance through my simple experience to women participating in Rally Jameel, because we are still lacking the strong supportive role of women in Saudi Arabian motorsports, and I consider it my duty to encourage more women to participate.”
Dr. Banaz adds, “Women in motorsports is new to the Kingdom, but so far the current perception is one of great support. Personally, my parents, husband, and both my kids cheer for me and that’s really all I need.”
