British rally driver Sara Williams has been nominated to travel to Qatar for a training and assessment programme. Williams is one of 18 female competitors chosen from around the world for the programme from which one driver and one co-driver will be chosen to compete in the 2016 Sealine Cross Country Rally.
Williams and British racing driver Jodie Hemmings were nominated by the MSA to be considered for the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) initiative, in association with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.
In 2013 the Briton became the first female driver to take outright victory on a UK rally since Louise Aitken Walker in 1983 and she added the 2015 Red Dragon Rally to her list of event wins earlier this year.
“Sara is well-known within British rallying and it’s great to see her talent being recognised,” said MSA Chief Executive Rob Jones. “This is a fantastic opportunity and I wish her the best of luck in the training camp and hope to see her competing on the Sealine Cross Country Rally next year.”
The training and assessment programme runs from 2 to 7 November and will be led by Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first and only woman to win the Dakar Rally, and multiple rally and cross country winning co-driver Fabrizia Pons.