Women's Cross Country line-up

Following their success in the joint FIA Women in Motorsport and Qatar Motor and Motorycycle Federation (QMMF) cross country rally selection, both Molly Taylor (AUS) and Lara Vanneste (BEL) have had to step back from participating in their funded drives in the Sealine Cross Country Rally. Taylor’s achievements in rallying have been rewarded with a recently announced factory drive with Subaru Australia, while Vanneste will be competing full time in the German Rally Championship. Unfortunately, events in both Championships clash with Qatar’s cross country rally.

Reserve driver Charlotte Berton, from France, will therefore now team up with Yasmeen Elmajed in the second T2 vehicle, and South African Sandra Labuscagne will navigate Cristina Gutierrez Herrero, replacing Vanneste in the three-car team entry.

“This is a great adventure, I love to discover new horizons in competition,” said Charlotte. “I will work hard on my physical training to be strong enough to face the heat and inevitable difficulties in the desert. Yasmeen and I drove together during the selection last year; we both had a good feeling and I am confident in sharing the car with her.”

Navigator Labuscagne, who will partner Gutierrez Herrero, was equally enthusiastic about the unexpected opportunity: "My selection came as a big surprise. I am very grateful for the amazing opportunity. It's a dream come true and a privilege to compete in the 2016 Sealine Cross Country Rally. Training and preparation will be key in our success and I am looking forward to the challenge. I would like to thank QMMF and the Commission for the opportunity."

The confirmed line-up for the FIA Women in Motorsport-QMMF three-car entry into the Sealine Cross Country Rally (17-22 April) is:

Emma Gilmour (NZL) / Lisette Bakker (NLD)
Charlotte Berton (FRA) / Yasmeen Elmajed (JOR)
Cristina Gutierrez Herrero (ESP) / Sandra Labuscagne (ZAF)

Michèle Mouton, President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, concluded: “It is a shame for Molly and Lara but we are delighted they both have full programmes for the season, underlining the talent we saw in them. While it will be an intense preparation period for Charlotte and Sandra, who we welcome to the team, we have a confirmed fitness, navigation and driver training programme organised in Qatar before the event and I am confident everyone will take the maximum benefit from these final preparations.”