During the morning, the 18 participants were taken to a practical dune training before going again alone in the afternoon to the dune stage. During four hours at the desert, the instructors created different scenarios that the drivers and co drivers can face in a stage; car release after getting stuck, safety in the dunes, downhill dune driving and rally parcours. In the afternoon, the participants were divided into groups again and they went into Stage 2.

For Mr Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, QMMF President and FIA Vice President MENA, all the preparations are going as scheduled and all the girls are extremely happy with the programme. “Yesterday they had their first experience in the sand dunes, but today, with more practice, I can see that of all them are so committed to the event and really looking forward to more. The soil and terrain of Qatar is really soft which gives them more excitement when driving and that can give them a great experience, especially because almost all the girls that are here come from countries without dunes,” QMMF President said.

“Today we got them into the life of the mechanics, not only driving, so they were instructed how to fix the wheels and tyre pressure. For us as organisers, we didn’t expect that all girls will learn so easily, so we are very happy with the good improvements and we will be always working very hard to improve the women in motorsport to reach their goals,” added Mr. Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah.

Philippe Droeven, one of the instructors of the programme, said: “This is a great academy for all the girls and we can start to see good progressions in some of the participants. Today we started with the wheel change, and it was perfect, the tyre pressures and learning when the car is stuck, a fantastic experience for the girls. Since the beginning it is a nice experience, it is a great academy for them, it is a great event and for sure they will learn a lot. The start on the level zero and now you can feel a little bit the difference and some of these girls learnt a lot and they are really able to do it more than at the beginning, and we are only in the second day, so I think after two more days it will be amazing.”

Participants:

Charlotte Berton, France – Driver
“It is really a great experience, you need to be here to take consideration of it, you cannot imagine how is it before coming. It is a real adventure, you are by yourself, we have to learn fast because the time is on. I really want to win, because the more time I spend here, the more interesting it gets. I want to learn more and more. Thanks to Jutta and Fabrizia for the good advices and we have to take the best of it to improve ourself. We work with a different co-driver every day so that is also interesting as we can learn more and more. This morning at the desert it was amazing, there was nobody, just ourselves, the map and GPS and I was just listening to my co-pilot, everything depends on her, pressure for her so I was aware of that, so I was really patient and we tried to make the job. It was difficult by we managed it.”

Klaudia Podkalicka, Poland – Driver
“I had a very good fun but it is not easy. I thought it will be a little easier, but it is not easier. Today was very difficult because it was the first time I was in the dunes, something new for me. Yesterday it was my area so I liked it where there are stones, so I felt very good but we had a little problem with navigation, but it is ok, it was also first time for navigation also. But in general everything is prepared perfectly, I am very lucky that I can be here, I meet a lot of great people, the place is beautiful, the organisation is great and all prepared top.”

Sara Williams, United Kingdom – Driver
“I am learning on both days, but yesterday it was a big learning gift because I have never driven in the sand and a left hand side car. We got stuck on the first day but we went through that and we learnt the wheel changing, so very interesting and helpful. Today we were learning in the dunes and learnt a lot and this morning I struggled a little trying to get into everything, but this afternoon when everything is together and we go out with the co-driver I think it will be fine. It is fantastic, all is great, everybody here is so helpful with a very good team.”

Tania Cardoso Sequeira, Portugal – Co-driver
“Today in the morning we were in the desert, it was a bit difficult, we can’t find everything that we had in the road book, but we found the way point and continue. But overall I enjoyed it very much and I like a lot this experience for me being the first time in the desert. I am learning a lot of things and all the preparations are great and I’m looking forward to the following stages.”

Sandra Labuscagne, South Africa – Co-driver
“I really enjoyed yesterday, it was a big learning course for us, especially our first time out in the dunes and the sand. I found the navigation to be quite tricky and difficult but I learnt a lot and it is from where you can learn, from your mistakes. I’m really looking forward to today’s afternoon stage with more dunes. The dunes are amazing and I am really having fun. Our teachers, Jutta and Fabrizia, are amazing, they have a lot of experience and this is a great opportunity to be here and get this great experience.”

Yasmeen Elmajed, Jordan – Co-driver
“This is so much more that what I expected, I had a lot of fun, so enjoyable. I was nervous at the beginning as I haven’t done this before but then when we started going and we had the hang of it, then it was just easier and then we got everything right. It is my first time in the desert, this afternoon it was harder because of the terrain, up and downhill and you cannot stop the car because you are afraid of going into the sand and then you get stuck, so it is quicker but it is easier to find the road, as it is either uphill or downhill. Everything is amazing, the organisation, all the things we are learning and the experience, all is incredible.”