The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Four Indonesian women are set to embark on the Rally Aicha des Gazelles competing against 150 teams from 22 countries, testing their driving and navigation skills and their psychological endurance in taming the wilderness of the Moroccan desert.
“Looking back at our team’s success last year, we are again sending four women to the Rally des Gazelles in Morocco. We are proud to take up the challenge so the world knows that we have women who are known for their toughness in facing a challenge,” said Elisabeth Proust, the president director of Total E&P Indonesie, on Saturday.
Total is the main sponsor of the event, which enters its 23rd edition this year. The four women are divided into two teams of two with the Tarutung Team comprising Yudith Thesia Rani and Shanti Radianti, and the Black Orchid Team lining up Edwina Kharisma Utamidewi Mononutu and Feri Susanti.
The participants are scheduled to arrive in Paris before heading to Morocco on March 15. The rally will start with a prolog in El Beg’a on March 21 and finish at Foum-Zguid on March 28 encompassing 6 stages.
According to the event’s website, the Gazelles have to reach predefined check points along their course in the least number of kilometers, rather than in the least amount of time.
They may choose to drive around a mountain or to cross over it, to drive through the dunes or to avoid them.
They are provided with a “Road Book” for the day’s course. This succinct document contains only the geographic coordinates, headings and distances of the day’s check points and finish line.
With the help of a compass and a 1:100,000 scale map, they plot their route and plan their itinerary.
Last year, Cendrawasih, one of two Indonesian teams, was among the few participants to have made it to all designated posts across the desert. “I’m willing to prove that a woman like me can also read a map and I want my team to win,” Yudith said.
Rally Aicha des Gazelles
Stage 1 (March 21): Prologue in El Beg’a
Stage 2 (March 22): El Beg’a – Tisserdimine
Stage 3 (March 23): Tisserdimine
Stage 4 (March 24/25): Tisserdimine – Ihandar
Stage 5 (March 26): Ihandar – Mhamid
Stage 6 (March 27/28): Mhamid – Foum-Zguid
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