Participants change tyres on rally cars during an in-garage practical session at Sealine yesterday.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
The second day of the FIA Women Cross Country Selection took place at Sealine yesterday, and included theoretical instructions and practical training for 18 participants.
In the morning, the participants were divided into driver and co-driver groups, for the purpose of training. In the afternoon, they made first contact with the terrain followed by in-garage practical training, including changing a tyre.
“I think it was a big day for the girls today. The exercise this morning with the practical training and then in the afternoon the real life started and I think that they realise how hard it is,” said Jutta Kleinschmidt, one of two instructors of the five-day programme which started on Monday.
“It took much longer than what I expected, but I think it was a fantastic experience and we will continue tomorrow very early.”
Fabrizia Pons, the other instructor, added: “Sending the participants to the dunes, something they had never seen in their lives before, it was very good experience for them and a nice feeling for us. The desert can be very difficult. You either love it or hate it. But there are lots of things to learn.”
Emma Gilmour, a driver from New Zealand participating in the programme, said, “Doing some basic skills on the sand with Jutta was just a lot of fun. But going out this afternoon and actually doing the stage; I now understand how disorienting it can be when you are out in the desert. Navigation is very important for the co-driver, difficult task.”
Zambian co-driver Jasmeen Singh Bhandhair reflected on her learnings of the day. She said, “I learned a lot. It is my first time using a GPS in the desert and in a 4x4 rally car. Using the GPS, I was getting lost
because I am not used to the coordinates and didn’t have too much time to go through the road book. When we got stuck, I didn’t know how to dig out the car but I think that if I practice more with the GPS and follow the road book, it will be much easier for me.”
Many participants appreciated being put through a new environment.
Swedish driver Jonna Lisa Eson Bradhe said, “It is an all new experience for me. It was a lot of fun and I hope to learn more tomorrow; how to get over the sand and the dunes. I found it harder than I expected. As a driver you have to keep checking with the co-driver and work together in a way you might not do in the rally. It is quite a different experience.”
Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation president and FIA vice president Mena Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah said, “The first day is always the hardest one. The girls were a bit worried but made a strong start with navigation, GPS and road book information. It was not easy for the navigators and the terrain made it difficult for the drivers too. Some of them got lost in the beginning but they became increasingly relaxed and more focussed as the time passed. I think tomorrow will be tougher with another programme but for sure they have learned something new, which is great.”
