Brp

It was her destiny. To compete on the World’s greatest rally on home soil. And to become the first Saudi lady, with Mashael Al Obaidan to start and finish the rally. Dania Akeel was first invited by the Saudi motorsports federation and the Dakar organisers to come and visit the event. Several test drives and experiences on various other rallies eventually led to that big step up. Dania Akeel started her motosports career as a bike rider on circuit but she isn’t just a motorsports athlete and fanatic. Having achieved a bachelor’s degree in “Modern History and Politics” from the Royal Holloway University of London and then a Master’s degree in “International Business” at the Hult International Business School in the United-States, she combines her passion with consulting, motivational speaking and book writing. For her debut on the Dakar, the Jeddah native managed the performance to finish in the Top 10 (8th). To prepare for her second Dakar, Akeel again competed in the FIA Baja World Cup, finishing second after winning the ladies title a year before. She will again be competing alongside experienced Sergio Lafuente who first did the Dakar on a quad (5th in 2012 and 2014) before switching to the navigator seat of an SSV.