After 43 editions of the Dakar Rally, this has been the first year that we have seen a team made up entirely of women take part in the toughest motor event at international level. FN Speed Team is the group that has committed to this, with six women ready to change the perspective on sport and gender.
At Ralarsa, as window tinting workshops and official sponsors of FN Speed Team, we use this article to highlight the growing — but still insufficient — role of women in elite sport.
Remember that in our window tinting workshops you can request services for your vehicle such as car glass repair, car headlight polishing, and even at-home windscreen replacement in case of emergency, among others. Visit our website and get your car ready for your next trip — we are waiting for you!
T3: the pioneering category of FN Speed Team
The Llagostera team have started 2022 on a high, having already overcome one of the most critical stages of the competition and entering the Dakar’s top 5, thanks to the fifth position achieved by Santi Navarro and Marc Solà in the lightweight prototypes category. However, the Girona-based team still has five tough stages ahead.
It is precisely in this category of lightweight prototypes, also known as T3, where the leading role of women stands out. Mercè Martí and Margot Llobera are the public faces of the first all-female team in Dakar history. And behind the scenes, coordinating mechanics and logistics, are Jèssica Nebra, Iona Hernández, Núria Gajà, and Anna Farré. Together they form a 100% female structure, pioneering in this race. They are responsible for bringing to the finish line the twin-cylinder, 195 hp buggy, capable of reaching speeds of over 130 km/h with state-of-the-art performance.
Undoubtedly, sending a message of advocacy and commitment in a competition of this magnitude is a great opportunity to promote gender equality in sport, a field largely dominated by men. With six women leading an entire team of the calibre of FN Speed Team, empowerment is clearly reflected in the aim of breaking stereotypes, with a clear message: women can be part of any area within sport.
With this as a premise, it is clear that the goal of this FN Speed Team lightweight prototype squad is to finish Dakar 2022 and, if possible, reach the podium — just like the other teams. But reaching the finish line with a line-up composed entirely of women would be a plus in every sense. Each of the six women who make up the team would become true role models and sources of inspiration for future generations and the public in general, calling for equality in society and especially in sport — whether in the desert dunes or on the football field.
As we mentioned earlier, there are still five hard Dakar stages to be completed successfully before the competition ends on 14 January. So, we will have to wait a few more days to see how each of the FN Speed Team’s teams and categories perform.
Here, on the Ralarsa blog, window tinting workshops, as motor sport enthusiasts and sponsors of this team, you can follow the progress of Dakar 2022 through our posts. Remember that on our website you can also find competitive prices on services such as car glass repair, car headlight polishing, and request at-home windscreen replacement in case of force majeure.
