As seen in The BBC: A British woman has finished the grueling 6,000km 2024 Africa Eco Race across the Sahara on a motorbike.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, Vanessa Ruck, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, was hit by a car while cycling in 2014.
Seven years of recovery followed, requiring her to face seven surgical procedures before she discovered motorcycles.
Now, as well as taking part in races, she visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports.
The race followed the route of the old Dakar Rally from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal and finished on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC South East from Dakar following the race, she said: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.”
She said: “You have to be so focussed. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
Ms Ruck said she undertook the 13-day race to prove that she still could face a challenge following her accident in 2014.
“I’ve been determined to get myself back, maybe not to be pain-free, but to a point where I can get out there and make the most of every day.
“For me, coming from my accident and recovery, fighting to get to that finish line, was a way of going ‘up you’ to my accident, and saying ‘you haven’t controlled by whole life’.”
She said she had discovered a new love of motorcycles through her recovery.
The Girl On A Bike vanessa ruck Vanessa Accident 2
“The Dakar is the big famous event, it’s the ultimate test.”
She said the longest day on her bike was 13.5 hours and some of the days were 90% on sand, with 400m high dunes.
She said: “There aren’t enough females doing these sorts of sports. I’m the first British female to ever finish this event, which I’m really proud of.”
She said: “I just want to get the word out, to show all those little girls who think they should be in princess dresses and have shiny nail polish that you can still have shiny nail polish and still race motorcycles too.”
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Yahoo News: British woman, Vanessa Ruck conquers 6,000km Africa Eco race on a motorbike. Inspiring recovery journey unfolds in the ultimate Dakar adventure.
A British woman has finished the gruelling 6,000km 2024 Africa Eco Race across the Sahara on a motorbike.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, Vanessa Ruck, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, was hit by a car while cycling in 2014.
Seven years of recovery followed, requiring her to face seven surgical procedures, before she discovered motorcycles.
Now, as well as taking part in races, she visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports.
The race followed the route of the old Dakar Rally from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal and finished on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC South East from Dakar following the race, she said: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.”
She said: “You have to be so focussed. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
Ms Ruck said she undertook the 13-day race to prove that she still could face a challenge following her accident in 2014.
“I’ve been determined to get myself back, maybe not to be pain-free, but to a point where I can get out there and make the most of every day.
“For me, coming from my accident and recovery, fighting to get to that finish line, was a way of going ‘up you’ to my accident, and saying ‘you haven’t controlled by whole life’.”
She said she had discovered a new love of motorcycles through her recovery.
“The Dakar is the big famous event, it’s the ultimate test.”
She said the longest day on her bike was 13.5 hours and some of the days were 90% on sand, with 400m high dunes.
She said: “There aren’t enough females doing these sorts of sports. I’m the first British female to ever finish this event, which I’m really proud of.”
She said: “I just want to get the word out, to show all those little girls who think they should be in princess dresses and have shiny nail polish that you can still have shiny nail polish and still race motorcycles too.”
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Kent Online: Experience the thrilling conclusion of Africa Eco Race 2024 at Lac Rose, Dakar, honouring exceptional athletes and celebrating victories across categories.
A Kent woman who was hit by a car in 2014 has completed a treacherous race across the Sahara on a motorbike.
Vanessa Ruck from Langton Green in Tunbridge Wells was struck by a car while out cycling 10 years ago.
She went through seven years of recovery which saw seven surgical procedures on her face.
After this, she discovered her love for motorcycles.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, the challenge saw Ms Ruck travel 6,000km in the 2024 Africa Eco Race across the scorching desert.
The race followed the route of the old Dakar Rally from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal and finished on Sunday.
She said the longest day on her bike was 13 and a half hours and some of the days were 90% on sand, with 400m high dunes.
“I’m absolutely shattered,” she told the BBC after finishing the challenge.
“I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.
“You have to be so focused. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
Ms Ruck, who is in her 30s, added she wanted to take on the 13-day race to prove that she still could face a challenge following her accident.
Sharing her triumph on Instagram, the daredevil said: “That was by far the toughest, most gruelling and most brutally demanding challenge I’ve faced both physically and mentally! I managed to survive every single stage safely and smoothly.
My body feels beaten beyond the boundaries of my limits but I never quit.”
As well as taking part in races, Ms Ruck visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports.
In 2022 Ms Ruck made history after she became the first woman to enter a gruelling motorcycle rally challenge which even claimed one competitor’s life.
The avid biker shifted gears as she battled extreme temperatures, sand dunes, hills and mountains at the Tunisia Desert Challenge and at one point her heart rate reached 194 beats per minute as she twisted the throttle through 85kmh (53mph) winds.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Automotor News: Discover the thrilling moments and triumphant winners at AFRICA ECO RACE 2024’s closing ceremony. Join us as we celebrate the extraordinary achievements on the podium and relive the surprises of this annual event.
CLOSING MOMENT OF THE AFRICA ECO RACE 2024
This Sunday, January 14, 2024, as tradition dictates since the creation of the AFRICA ECO RACE, the 15th edition concluded at Lac Rose in Dakar. A true celebration, this parade of winners and finishers on the podium was organized by the Senegalese Auto Moto Federation, the host organization for this event. The ceremony was preceded by the traditional special stage at Lac Rose, a 22 km stretch from Niokob Beach to the mythical lake, where motorcycles, cars, and trucks still in the race completed the circuit. A final honorable battle that, however, surprises every year.
In the Motorcycle category, all the riders of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 decided to honor one of their own, the handicapped rider Nicola DUTTO. To do this, the bikers followed the Italian and his two guardian angels who accompanied him throughout the rally, allowing him to open and win this final timed sector. A way to pay tribute to this extraordinary athlete who covered almost 6000 km of the course strapped to his KTM equipped with a roll cage protecting his legs in case of a fall.
After the race, the top three overall riders, Italian Jacopo CERRUTI on APRILA also 1st in Multicylinders -1000 CC, his compatriot Alessandro BOTTURI also 1st Veteran, and Andorran Pol TARRES on YAMAHA, received magnificent bronze trophies. Subsequently, winners in different categories were also rewarded, including Swiss Alexandre VAUDAN 1st in under 450 CC, also 1st in the Acerbis Rookie Rider Challenge on KTM, Patrice CARILLON 1st in the Motul Xtreme Rider Challenge on KTM, Italian Giovanni STIGLIANO 1st in over 450 CC on HUSQVARNA, Spaniard Juan PEDRERO 1st in Multicylinders over 1000 CC on HARLEY DAVIDSON, not forgetting the British Vanessa RUCK, the first female rider on KTM. Finally, all finishing riders received a bronze medal symbolizing the feat of staying in the rankings.
On four wheels, Frenchmen Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER, overall winners, logically were the first to place their SSV APACHE on the podium to receive the two bronze trophies and the two trophies in the SSV T3 U category. Next were the Belgians Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS, 2nd in the Rally and 1st in the 4×4 Petrol category on their TOYOTA, while in 3rd position, Spaniards Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO also led the CAN AM to victory in T4.
Czech Tomas TOMECEK was rewarded for his 5th victory in the truck category driving his TATRA. Frenchmen Frédéric HENRICY and Eric BERSEY emerged victorious in the SSV EXTREME RACE challenge on POLARIS, Dutchmen Teun STAM and Rene BARGEMAN won in 4×4 Diesel on TOYOTA, Moroccan Souad MOUTKADIRI finished as the first African female rider with her CAN AM, while Italians Giulio VERZELETTI and Giuseppe FORTUNA clinched victory in the Truck -10000 CC category on their MERCEDES. Finally, Italians Stefano ROSSI and Jacopo CASINI received the Experimental Vehicle trophy on a NISSAN powered by Hydrogen, while Eric and Grégoire COQUIDE won the OPEN category, also on NISSAN.
Also, not to forget to honor the race veteran Yoshimasa SUGAWARA a race legend, in the discipline and finisher at 83, driving a vehicle he built with his own hands..
In the Classic race, Belgians Tom and Eric CLAEYS were awarded the winners’ trophy ahead of their compatriots René DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER, while Austrian Peter BRABECK-LEMATHE and Frenchman Jean Michel GAYTE completed the podium.
The ceremony at Lac Rose also featured a parade of around fifty vehicles from the auto and motorcycle raid on the podium to present participants with a souvenir medal.
The final highlight of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 was the group photo of the 160 members of the organizing team and service providers. Like many competitors, all pledged to be present for the 2025 edition!
For the rest of The Automotor Newsarticle see here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Racecar: Exciting finishes, triumphant riders, and champions crowned at Lac Rose in Dakar – the epic conclusion of Africa Eco Race.
A ceremony preceded by the traditional 22 km long Lac Rose special going from Niokob beach to the legendary body of water where the motorcycles, cars and trucks still in the race circled.
In the Motorcycle category the riders shone the spotlight on disabled rider Nicola DUTTO. The bikers got behind the Italian and his two guardian angels who accompanied him throughout the rally and they let him open up and win this final timed sector. A way of paying tribute to this extraordinary sportsman who covered the almost 6,000 km of the route strapped on his KTM equipped with a roll bar protecting his legs in the event of a fall.
After the race the first three rivers in the scratch, talian Jacopo CERRUTI on APRILA, also 1st in Multicylinders -1000 CC, his compatriot Alessandro BOTTURI,1st Veteran and Andorran Pol TARRES on YAMAHA a received the magnificent bronze trophies.
The winners of the different categories were also rewarded, including the Swiss rider Alexandre VAUDAN 1st in – 450 CC (also 1st in the Rookie Rider Challenge By Acerbis) on a KTM, Patrice CARILLON 1st in the Motul Xtreme Rider Challenge also on a KTM, The Italian Giovanni STIGLIANO 1st in over 450 CC on HUSQVARNA, Juan PEDRERO 1st in Multi-cylinders over 1000 CC on HARLEY DAVIDSON and not forgetting the British rider Vanessa RUCK 1st female rider also on a KTM. Finally, all the finishing riders received a bronze medal symbolizing the feat of having managed to stay in the ranking.
On four wheels, Frenchmen Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER were overall winners and took their SSV APACHE onto the podium to receive the two bronze trophies and also the two trophies in the SSV T3 U category. Then came the Belgians Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS, 2nd in the Rally and 1st in the 4×4 Petrol with their TOYOTA, while in 3rd position Spaniards Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO drove the CAN AM to victory in T4.
Czech driver Tomas TOMECEK was rewarded for his 5th victory in the truck category at the wheel of his TATRA. The French team Frédéric HENRICY and Eric BERSEY won in the SSV EXTREME RACE challenge with a POLARIS, and the Dutchmen Teun STAM and Rene BARGEMAN won in 4X4 Diesel with a TOYOTA.
The Moroccan Souad MOUTKADIRI finished 1st African driver with his CAN AM, while the Italians Giulio VERZELETTI and Giuseppe FORTUNA pocketed the victory in Truck -10000 CC with their MERCEDES. Finally the Itaians Stefano ROSSI and Jacopo CASINI received the Experimental Vehicle trophy with a NISSAN running on Hydrogen; Eric and Grégoire COQUIDE won the OPEN category, also with a NISSAN.
Organisers also honoured racing veteran Yoshimasa SUGAWARA , legend of the discipline and finisher at 83, on a vehicle built with his own hands.
In the Classic race Belgians Tom and Eric CLAEYS were awarded the winners’ trophy ahead of their compatriots René DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER while Austrian Peter BRABECK-LEMATHE and the Frenchman Jean Michel GAYTE completed the podium.
The ceremony at Lac Rose was also an opportunity to parade on the podium the fifty vehicles from the Auto and Motorcycle Raid to offer the participants a souvenir medal.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Bowler Motors: Vanessa Ruck, Bowler Works driver and 4th Place in the UK Championship of the Defender Rally Series for 2023, stepped up to a formidable new challenge for January 2024: the 13-day, 6000 km gruelling Africa Eco Race, on her KTM 450 Rally Replica motorbike.
She successfully completed the extreme endurance event, winning the award of 1st Woman in the Bike category, and in so doing became the first British Woman to complete the event.
Renown in the motorcycle communities globally, Vanessa has shown admirable resilience by recovering from severe injury after a dramatic accident and taking up motorbike endurance racing, with progressively more difficult events over the years, building up her skills and strength.
Infamous for its difficulty, the intimidating Africa Eco Race was set in Vanessa’s mind as a pinnacle event to attempt to complete on a motorcycle. It has been exhilarating for her to not only achieve this, but also to be the first female motorcycle rider across the line. The Africa Eco Race features some of the harshest terrain in Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. Making her accomplishment more notable, she achieved this while fighting through chronic pain, that she lives with and manages every day, since her accident back in 2014.
As one of only 25 of the 46 riders in the Moto category in the 2024 event managing to complete the whole course, Vanessa spent over 74 hours tackling special stages and 103 hours in total on her bike.
Bowler were pleased to support her campaign by providing a Defender which towed her Motorbike support trailer, provided by Motorbike rally raid specialists Desert Rose Racing, headed up by former UK rally raid competitor Patsy Quick.
Bowler used their experience of Rally raid events to prepare the Defender by making some subtle enhancements to the car along with the addition of a second battery and split charge system to support Vanessa’s media team. In addition, Bowler and JLR experts ensured that Vanessa’s support team were prepared for the challenge ahead by providing vehicle familiarisation and off-road driver training, prior to the team heading out to the event.
Bowler sends our heart-felt congratulations to Vanessa for her inspirational achievement and are delighted to have been able to play a small part in her success. Vanessa embodies the true character of Defender in every way, showing true strength & resilience in battling her way through unforgiving terrain to her destination.
What’s coming next? We look forward to seeing more of Vanessa as she joins us for the 2024 season of the Defender Rally Series.
The driver teams in the Defender Rally Series typically have racing backgrounds in other disciplines, and as Vanessa had come to us from her motorbike racing, her ability to read the terrain and work out a pathway helped her significantly when learning to rally a car. By the end of 2023, Vanessa had transformed from a rally car driver beginner, to a competent and accomplished rally car driver, having earned multiple podium positions and 4th place overall in the UK Championship of the Defender Rally Series, along with an upgrade to a National Licence. This enables her to compete in rally car events internationally, where we look forward to seeing her in the European Baja Championship of the Defender Rally Series.
For the rest of The Bowler Motorsarticle see here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Moto Station: Jacopo Cerruti clinches victory in Africa Eco Race aboard Aprilia 660 at Dakar’s Lac Rose. A thrilling triumph against Yamaha contenders.
L’Africa Eco Race s’is finished on the shores of Lac Rose in Dakar and it’ is the’ Italian Jacopo Cerruti who won the’ event on his Aprilia 660 Tuareg. He had taken the lead from the first stage and did not let go despite the forcing of the Yamaha boys, Pol Tarres and Alessandro Botturi on their 700 Tenere. Change was expected on the last difficult Mauritanian stages, to no avail. Here is the official statement of the’ultime stage in Senegal where Tarres finishes in beauty.
Cerruti wins the 2024 Africa Eco Race
Manfred Kroiss, had announced last night at the briefing that this 11th special of the’ edition 2024 would not be easy, both in terms of navigation and terrain. As often, the Sports Director of the’Africa Eco Race was right but the leader did not’a cracked and retained his advantage over the 247 km of the day.
Pol Tarres did not want to let anyone take care of S’ on this ultimate special. The hot Andorran made the powder speak on the handlebars of his Yamaha 700 Tenerated in S’adjudging the scratch 00:07:33 in front of the KTM 450 of the surprising French driver Attilio Fert, author of’a end of rally of all beauty. By taking the third place at 2 minutes and especially by ahead of his compatriot Alessandro Botturi, the’Italian Jacopo Cerruti won this 15th edition of the’Africa Eco Race and offers Aprilia a first victory on a big all-terrain rally.
The two official Yamaha riders Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarres finished 2nd and 3rd respectively at 00:06 38 and 00:18:21. Very close times after more than 4000 kilometers of special and therefore a battle of every moment for two weeks on the slopes.
Behind the three « Twin », we find the revelation of this Africa Eco Race on two wheels, namely Alexandre Vaudan. At the handlebar of’une KTM, Switzerland won not only the 450 category but also the challenge « Rookie Rider by Acerbis » reserved for drivers under 35 years old who have never participated in a rally of more than 8 days.
The category over 450 goes to the’Italian Giovanni Stigliano on HVA, 17th in the general. The first female rider is the Brit Vanessa Ruck who places her KTM in 27th position in the motorcycle classification. The first Junior, driver under 25, is the’italian Marco Menichini, 7th overall on an HVA while the first Veteran, driver over 40, n’is other than’Alessandro Botturi. A word finally on the’exploit of this African fortnight since Joan Pedrero has managed the bet to’ bring the official Harley Davidson 1250 Pan America to Dakar and especially, being ranked in 25th position. No one’y believed and yet he’a made it !
To note the quality of the motorcycle plateau this year since on 47 drivers from Monaco on December 30, last, 34 Will be classified at the’ arrival tomorrow at Lac Rose for the awards ceremony.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Rally.IT: Alessandro Cerutti secures APRILIA’s first triumph in Africa Eco Race 2024, conquering the challenging final stage. Explore the intense battles and thrilling victories in this off-road rally.
Manfred KROISS had announced the night before during the briefing that the eleventh stage of the 2024 edition would not have been easy, both in terms of navigation and terrain. As often happens, the Sports Director of AFRICA ECO RACE was right, but the leaders of the different categories did not waver and maintained their advantage over the 247 km of the day.
In the Motorcycle category, Pol TARRES was determined not to let anyone else take victory in this final stage. The lively Andorra rider showed his skill aboard his YAMAHA 700 Ténéré, securing the stage victory with a time of 00:07:33, ahead of the KTM 450 of the surprising French rider Attilio FERT, who achieved a beautiful finish in the rally. With third place, just 2 minutes and clearly ahead of his compatriot Alessandro BOTTURI, the Italian Jacopo CERUTTI wins this 15th edition of the AFRICA ECO RACE, giving APRILIA its first victory in a major off-road rally.
The two official YAMAHA riders, Alessandro BOTTURI and Pol TARRES, finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, with times of 00:06:38 and 00:18:21. These times were very close after more than 4000 kilometers of special stages, showcasing a fierce battle during the two-week journey on the slopes. Behind the three “Twin” riders, the revelation of this AFRICA ECO RACE on two wheels is Alexandre VAUDAN.
Riding a KTM, the Swiss won not only the 450 category but also the “Rookie Rider By Acerbis” challenge reserved for riders under 35 who had never participated in a rally lasting more than 8 days.
The over-450 category is won by the Italian Giovanni STIGLIANO on HUSQVARNA, who ranks 17th overall. The first female rider is the British Vanessa RUCK, who places her KTM in 27th place in the motorcycle rankings. The first Junior, under 25 years old, is the Italian Marco MENICHINI, 7th overall on HUSQVARNA, while the first Veteran, over 40 years old, is none other than Alessandro BOTTURI. Finally, a word on the feat of these two African weeks in which Joan PREDRERO managed to bring the official HARLEY DAVIDSON 1250 Pan America to Dakar and, more importantly, to rank 25th. No one believed it, yet he did it!
It’s worth noting the quality of the motorcycle field this year, with 34 of the 47 riders who set off from Monaco on December 30 last year set to finish tomorrow at Lac Rose for the awards ceremony.
In the Car category, Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS were determined to win this last stage. With their TOYOTA Hilux V8, the Belgians beat the Portuguese from the SSV CAN AM team, Ricardo SOUSA and Jorge BRANDAO, by 04:24, thus securing 2nd place overall and victory in the Car category. This result was a tribute to the crew that competed with Jacky LOOMANS’ former 4×4, who passed away last week after a long illness
In 3rd place in this final stage we find Pierre-Louis LOUBET and François BORSOTTO in their APACHE. A last honorable meeting for the WRC2 World Champion, who had to deal with some vehicle problems. Without them he would certainly have achieved better results than this 11th place overall. Fortunately the second SSV of this young APACHE AUTOMOTIVE team had no problems. The reliability, combined with the excellent level of performance of this new hybrid technology, allowed Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER to emerge victorious in the Car, SSV and Truck categories.
An exceptional victory for this French motocross legend who takes part in his first race behind the wheel. It is also an incredible victory for a new SSV built by a French team that had never participated in any race. Once again no one expected such a good performance, but their dominance was completed with 7 wins out of 11 stages, of which 5 for LOUBET. In the end, crew no. 260 wins the AFRICA ECO RACE with an advantage of 03:45:08 over the second, and without incurring any penalties. An impeccable performance!
In the desert giants category, Tomas TOMECEK wins, finishing 4th overall. The Czech, alone on his “old” TATRA, thus achieved his 5th victory in the AFRICA ECO RACE. He is followed by the Dutch team made up of Aad VAN VELSEN, Michel VAN VESLEN and Marco SIEMONS, who won today and are now in fifth place overall with their SCANIA. The GINAF of Cédric FERYN, Bjorn BURGELMAN and Tom DE LEEUW complete the podium of the day and the event.
In the Classic race, Tom and Eric CLAYS win the event after 27 Regularity Zones and over 1000 km of tracks, demonstrating undisputed dominance. For his 70th birthday, the Belgian driver will have the honor of climbing onto the podium with his 1986 TOYOTA BJ 73 to receive the trophy of this first edition of the AFRICA ECO RACE CLASSIC.
Today, Sunday 14 January 2024, after a final trip of 248 km to the legendary Lac Rose and a final stop on the beach for fun, the winners and finalists will take turns on the podium to receive the trophies and medals of the 2024 AFRICA ECO RACE.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Visor Down: Vanessa Ruck has become a well-known figure in the world of adventure biking, but her biggest challenge is to come: the Africa Eco Race
The Africa Eco Race is not the most famous rally in the world, but it does follow perhaps the most famous route, generally speaking, as it aims to replicate the original Paris-Dakar rally. Vanessa Ruck will be taking part in the AER for the first time in 2024.
It won’t be Ruck’s first attempt at a motorcycle rally. In fact, she’s becoming quite experienced in the discipline, having competed in the 1000 Dunas, Morocco Desert Challenge, and Tunisian Desert Challenge, to name a few.
But the Africa Eco Race is a tough challenge on Ruck’s horizon. “My goal is to not die in the desert, and make the finish line,” Ruck said with a laugh. I spoke with her back at the end of August at the Women in Moto Show in Uttoxeter. Even then, more than four months out from the beginning of the AER, she was “having nightmares about [it].”
But, despite the anxious fear of what is to come, the AER is an important rally to Ruck. “There’s a number of reasons why I’ve been attracted to the Africa Eco Race,” she said, “primarily, [it] is really the original route of the Dakar.”
The Paris-Dakar Rally no longer has anything to do with either Paris, the French capital, or the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Security concerns led to the rally’s cancellation in 2008, and in 2009 it left its original home and shifted to South America.
Since 2020, the ‘Dakar’ has been run in Saudi Arabia. In comparison, the Africa Eco Race begins in Monaco, and runs stages through North Africa, into Senegal, and eventually to the finish in Dakar, making it quite similar to the original race.
The AER has “got a lot more to do with the heritage and the emotion of what we think about when we think of the Dakar,” Ruck says. “It’s 14 days, it’s 6,500km, it’s moving bivouacs, all the way down to Dakar.”
Ruck is not only a supporter of the AER’s concept, but also someone who does not seem to enjoy the concept of the modern Dakar. Not only the event itself but also the way it dominates the rally discipline.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Kent Online: Explore the thrilling world of desert rally racing as I share insights on the Africa Eco Race 2024 with KentOnline/KMTV. Discover my charity involvement with Two Wheels For Life.
For the rest of The Kent Online article on the Africa Eco Race see here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
