The confirmed line-up for the FIA Women in Motorsport-QMMF three-car entry into the Sealine Cross Country Rally is:

#244 Charlotte Berton (FRA) / Antonia de Roissard (FRA) *
#245 Emma Gilmour (NZL) / Lisette Bakker (NLD)
#246 Cristina Gutierrez Herrero (ESP) / Sandra Labuscagne (ZAF)

* Replacing Jordan’s Yasmeen Elmajed

Under the expert guidance of Dakar Rally winner Jutta Kleinschmidt and multiple rally and cross country winning co-driver Fabrizia Pons, the crews have spent the last two days doing more practical training in the desert, preparing for their outing in Qatar’s round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies in their Nissan Patrols.

Commenting on progress and expectations ahead of the event, Kleinschmidt, who is also contesting the rally with the X-Raid Team, said: “The girls arrived very well prepared, both physically and technically; they’ve taken it seriously and learned a lot in the past months. We spent the first day doing more technical work; changing tyres and various mechanical components, as well as working with the GPS and trip. Today was more of a shakedown from a driving perspective, but we also went through the regulations and did a lot of work on the preparation of the road book. My expectations… we’ll have to see. The entry is much larger than expected and of course they can only judge themselves within their own category, which is for more standard production vehicles. For me, the most important is that they enjoy it, have fun and gain a lot of experience. A top five within their category would be a very good result.”

Since their selection last November, the young women have also been guided through personal fitness training courtesy of the Physical Trainer at the Royal Club of Belgium. With the women coming from five different countries stretching as far afield as South Africa, New Zealand and Europe, precision sports training technology was adopted, enabling the trainer to personalise programmes and monitor performances based on a weekly transfer of personal data from Polar watches.

Commenting on this remote training method not previously carried out by the RACB, Geoffroy Theunis from the Federation said: “This was something new and innovative for us and it was interesting following progress from a distance. We wanted to provide support but had to arrive at a solution that overcame the fact everyone is in different countries. There was also great camaraderie from group messaging, as the team-building element is also very important.”

This year’s Sealine Cross Country Rally has attracted a provisional list of entrants which includes 46 cars. The competitive action gets underway on Monday 18 April with the first of five punishing selective sections around the Qatar deserts. In total, the route takes in nearly 2000 kilometres, 83% of which is competitive.

“We wish our three Women in Motorsport crews, as well as Jutta, a really successful event,” said Michèle Mouton, President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission. “It is going to be an incredible challenge on one of the toughest cross country events in the World Cup, but I am sure our three crews will approach it with due caution and respect. To complete the route and gain experience is an important step in learning and enjoying a new discipline.”