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Multiple title winner commits to Gazelle Morocco China rally

motorsport09 October 2019 13:18| © SuperSport
By:Karien Jonckheere
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Jeanette James © SuperSport.com

She’s competed 11 times, won on four occasions, and now Jeanette James is ready for a new challenge – taking on the newly launched, all-women Gazelle Morocco China rally.

The France-based Brit is one of the most experienced drivers in the famous Rallye Aicha des Gazelles in Morocco, which is now in its 30th year. But with the event branching out to Asia for the first time, James is thrilled to tackle what Naiman Province in China has to throw at her.

“I feel that this rally is going to be a historic moment, the first all-women rally in China. How could I miss it? It’s in a country that has incredible potential and an extraordinary history and culture,” said the 57-year-old mom, who started out as a lawyer but now works as a leading 4x4 instructor for several different brands, while also being a diving instructor.

“This is the first and so very exciting, I think the mixture of cultures will be enriching and the sharing of a common goal, really exciting. I am very keen to discover the area of Naiman Province and the Ke’erquin Desert and its landscapes and culture,” she added.

James, who originally hails from London, but is now based in the south of France, will be teaming up with a co-driver she’s never met before. But that adds to the excitement ahead of the Gazelle Morocco China promo event which takes place in Naiman Qi, Ke’erquin Desert from 23-26 October.

“I am competing with Annie [Seel], who I have never met and know absolutely nothing about. This will add to the challenge of the race and I am intrigued to find out how we will get along.”

Seel, who hails from Sweden, has a prolific pedigree in motor racing. Among her remarkable achievements – she has claimed the female trophy in the famous Dakar Rally and has set a world altitude record for climbing to Everest base camp on a motorcycle. So the pair should form a formidable team.

'EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE'

Asked about her experiences in the Morocco race, where teams are armed with little more than a map, pencil and compass, and must reach as many checkpoints as possible in as short a distance as possible, which is what makes the Gazelle rally such a unique event and a challenging contest for the participants, James explained: “For me the event is unique in the fact that you are out there on your own, you choose your path, you live the weather, the open spaces and you live the moment in the present.

“The rally does change you. At the beginning you don’t realise you have changed but I think it gives you courage to face up to daily problems in your life and more than anything else it helps you to choose your life with conscious decision. The everyday things become easier after having been through the grit.”

As for highlights along the way, the multiple title winner added: “I have had the chance to have many highlights during the race. Obviously having won it four times is amazing, but I think it’s the life-long friends that you make that are my real highlights. And I can promise you that every checkpoint you find, even after 11 years, is an amazing highlight.”

Following this month’s promotional event, the main Gazelle Morocco China race is scheduled to take place towards the end of 2020, with an estimated 60 teams from across the globe set to take part.

The fact that it’s an all-women event makes it especially significant in the empowerment of the women who take part, who are mentally and physically pushed to their limits.

“The race is very important to show women that everything is possible, that if you have a dream and if you believe in your dream, you can make it happen,” explained James. “First it is for a race but it then continues in your everyday life and you realise that you can make things happen through sheer willpower.

“I am very proud to be part of this event and I hope that it will contribute to helping women around the world know their worth and their competence”

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