Need For Speed: Saudi women head to racetrack after upliftment of driving ban

The adrenaline rush-driven Saudi women have taken to racetracks to embrace their love for speed in a country which overturned the world’s only ban on female motorists in June as part of a much-hyped liberalisation drive led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It was an unimaginable feat for these women just weeks ago.

Rana Almimoni, donned a classy helmet inside a pearl silver sports sedan as she skid and drifted around a Riyadh park. The 30-year-old, a motor racing enthusiast, is defying the perception that only dainty cars in bright colours are popular with women drivers. Engines roaring, tyres screeching, she kicks up dust as while swerving her sedan as
she corners Riyadh’s Dirab motor park.

“I adore speed. I love speed… My dream car is more than 500 horsepower,” said Almimoni, slamming the accelerator of her silvery sleek Kia Stinger inside Riyadh’s Dirab motor park.

“It’s a myth… that Saudi women only choose pink and cute cars.”

Almimoni said she awaited an expected government decision that would allow women to obtain a “racing license”, which would allow her to fuel her passion vehemently in motor-sport competitions.

Author Pascal Menoret’s acclaimed book “Joyriding in Riyadh” described the high-octane Saudi obsession for drifting as all “about being a real man”.

Saudi women are now adhering to their passions and taking keen interest in what previously was a male entitlement, namely speed.

“Most of our enquiries (from women) are about drifting — how to learn drifting, which cars can they train on, how long will it take them” to drift, said instructor Falah al-Jarba as he watched Almimoni zip past him at the park.

Automobile showrooms engaging with new women clients have rolled out an exquisite line-up of cherry red Mini Coopers, but sales professionals say most show an appetite for muscle cars like the Camaro or the Mustang convertible.

Aseel al-Hamad, the first female member of the kingdom’s national motor federation, who got behind the wheel of a Formula One car in France in June to mark the end of the driving ban, stays an inspiration to beginners.

The driving reform is said to be transformative for women, giving them independence over their need for private chauffeurs or male relatives, yet many are keeping off the streets.

“Congratulate me, finally saw a female driving! Although she is Bahraini but it counts as she is driving in Saudi land,” comedian Yaser Bakr said on Twitter after the ban was lifted.

Also Read: Achilles the cat predicts Russian victory against Saudi Arabia