The first FIA Women Cross Country Selection kicked off today at Doha with the registration for the 18 candidates that have been selected out of 85 applications. These women will take part in a five day training program in Qatar with the assessment of Jutta Kleinschmidt and Fabrizia Ponz, where the winners, one driver and one co-driver will be chosen to team up and participate in the 2016 Sealine Cross Country Rally.
In the welcome dinner held today, QMMF President and FIA Vice President for MENA welcomed all the participants to this exceptional program and they have to be really proud to have been selected for this. ‘Qatar and QMMF gives full support to women in motorsport and we really hope that this is only the beginning and can motivate and encourage more women to join motorsport’ Nasser Al Attiyah said.
There was a group photo with all the 18 participants together with Mr. Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, the two instructors Jutta Kleinschmidt and Fabrizia Ponz.
From 3rd to 6th November, the action will continue at Sealine, Doha.
Drivers:
Charlotte Berton, France
Jonna Lisa Eson Bradhe, Sweden
Emma Gilmour, New Zealand
Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero, Spain
Klaudia Podkalicka, Poland
Melanie Schulz, Germany
Yara Shalaby, Egypt
Molly Taylor, Australia
Sara Williams, United Kingdom
Co-drivers:
Lisette Bakker, Netherlands
Tania Cardoso Sequeira, Portugal
Yasmeen Elmajed, Jordan
Veronica Engan, Norway
Rhianon Gelsomino, Australia
Sandra Labuscagne, South Africa
Jasmeen Singh Bhandhair, Zambia
Natalie Solbach-Schmidt, Germany
Lara Vanneste, Belgium
