You may have heard about the grueling Dakar rally that takes place in January every year. If you like that two-week long race, then you will surely like the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles rally that just completed this week. This is all-female rally with participant from all over the world. Each racing team consists of a driver and navigator, along with the support crew. Here is the catch. This rally is measured not on time, but on distance. The team that travels the shortest distance between checkpoints wins.
This is not as easy as it may sound. The use of a computerized GPS system is not allowed. The teams must navigate the old fashioned way with compasses and paper maps.
Naturally, driver skill and vehicle durability are also key. The shortest distance may lead you over a cliff, so you have maintain a safe route without getting stuck or damaging you vehicles.
Eight teams from the United States participated in the 2016 Gazelles rally, and three of the teams finished the week in the top 5!
2nd — Nicole Pitell-Vaughan (Corona, California) / Chrissie Beavis (San Diego, California): #180 Toyota Tacoma
3rd — Susanah Hoehn (Del Mar, California) / Jo Hannah Hoehn (Del Mar, California): #107 Land Rover LR4
5th — Emme Hall (Oakland, California) / Sabrina Howells (Los Angeles, California): #178 Land Rover Defender
One a personal note, team TFL is happy to see the team of Emme Hall and Sabrina Howells finish in 5th place. We were rooting for team #178 the entire way and saw them in third place at one point in the rally.
Week-long desert rallies are strenuous and dangerous. Here is a look at another risky motorsports event – the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. This is Sebastien Loeb setting an all-time record time up the hill has not been matched yet.
