As seen in The Monmouthshire Beacon: Monmouthshire-based motorcycle adventurer, influencer, and racer known as “The Girl on a Bike,” continues her trailblazing journey in motorsports, switching gears from two wheels to four as she takes on European rally car racing with the motto “adapt, don’t quit”.

Monmouthshire-based motorcycle adventurer, influencer, and racer known as “The Girl on a Bike,” continues her trailblazing journey in motorsports, switching gears from two wheels to four as she takes on European rally car racing with the motto “adapt, don’t quit”.

Vanessa Ruck is tackling the Defender Rally Series in a Defender 90 with Bowler Motorsport, fuelled by her passion for racing and her mission to inspire women.

“This was a daunting leap – trading two wheels for a 2.3-tonne Defender was terrifying,” admits Vanessa. “But my mission is to show that your past doesn’t define your future. There’s always room to learn and grow, and motorsport has always captured my imagination.”

Vanessa’s entry into rally car racing was made possible through Defender, Jaguar Land Rover’s rally racing arm following the integration of Bowler. Their Defender Rally Series is uniquely designed for newcomers and pros alike, by providing the custom-built car, expert training, and ongoing race support.

Having earned podium placing in four racing events out of seven in her first year, this time, Vanessa is upping her game and moving onto the second year, taking on four EU Baja Championship events in her Defender, affectionately called Big Boy, referencing his size compared to her motorcycles.

The Defender Series takes the road-ready Defender 90 as a donor base vehicle before upgrading and modifying them to meet the gruelling requirements of fast speed rally racing, which includes capabilities suitable for Vanessa’s ultimate goal of getting to the desert with four wheels. The rally-ready Defenders campaigned in the series are closely related to P300 production models with added safety features, including race-specification seats, FIA-approved roll cage and fire extinguishers. They use the same powerful 300PS Ingenium petrol engine, responsive eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and advanced All-Wheel Drive system as showroom models, with all mechanical enhancements, rally support, competition entries and vehicle logistics taken care of by an expert team from Bowler.

After a devastating car accident and years of recovery, a reconstructed hip and shoulder, and countless months of painful physiotherapy, she discovered a new love for motorcycles. Escalating quickly with her heart of determination, in January she conquered the brutal Africa Eco Race on a motorcycle, becoming the first British female to finish the notoriously challenging rally. The event followed the original Dakar route covering 6,000 kilometers in 13 days on a motorcycle in treacherous African terrain.

This career shift to rally car racing is driven by Vanessa’s need to manage chronic pain. “Motorcycling takes a toll on my body. I live with chronic pain, my hip is deteriorating, and I don’t go anywhere without painkillers. I had to come to an emotional realisation that the one home that I have – my body – is something that I need to be a bit more mindful and protective of for my future,” she explains. “But I refuse to give up the thrill of racing.  Four wheels offer a way to stay in the desert, in the bivouac, hooked on the adrenaline and keep pushing boundaries.”

Vanessa’s goal is to become the first British female driver to complete a major (yet-to-be-disclosed) international rally in 2026.  As she blazes this new trail, Vanessa proudly flies the British flag on her car during her upcoming European races.

She uses her story to help engage and inspire the future generations across the UK with her free schools programme. Having visited more than 40 schools, speaking to more than 20,000 students already, Vanessa is on a mission to use her story to help drive hope and energy in others. Vanessa’s door is open for sponsorship help and speaking opportunities.

For the rest of The Monmouthshire Beacon article 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.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Threads, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The L’Eclaireur du Gâtinais: Vanessa Ruck and her newly designed Defender 90 turns heads throughout France as one of the only women drivers in the EU Baja Championship.

The second round of the Bowler Defender Rally Series powered by TATA ELXSI saw Vanessa Ruck head to Gaitanis France to race her Defender 90 known as Big Boy in part of the EU Baja Championship. Her newly designed graphics by AR Signs on the Defender 90 really made head turns throughout the town and drew the crowd’s attention to the realisation that Vanessa Ruck was one of the only women driving. Vanessa Ruck and her presence driving in the area was highly noted and herself and her Defender 90 made the sporting section headlines in the newspaper.

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.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on  Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The FFSA: Separated by three small points, Benoit Bersans and Thomas Lefrancois will once again face’. The fight should be refereed by Stephan Barthe and Vincent Pointelet who will evolve in the same class as the Bearnais.

18th Rallye Terres du Gatinais

Third round of the 2024 French All-Terrain Rally Championship.

Entries: 79 including 33 registered in the French Championship, 21 in the 2WD Challenge, 12 in the SSV Challenge, 13 in the 4×4 Trophy and 3 on the waiting list.

Route: 285 km long including 149 km of ES (12), divided into two stages. Departure from the Sucrerie closed park in Corbeilles, Saturday April 27 at 9:00 a.m. Arrival at the Sucrerie closed park in Corbeilles on Sunday April 28 at 4:14 p.m.

Counts for the French Cross-Country Rally Championship (drivers and co-drivers) (3/11), the 4×4 Rally Trophy (drivers and co-drivers) (3/11), the 2-wheel drive Rally Challenge (drivers and co-drivers) (3 /11), the SSV Challenge (drivers and co-drivers) (3/11).

The main favorites for victory and places of honor

French Championship : Barthe (Nissan Fouquet), Bersans (Nissan Fouquet), Poincelet (BMW Fouquet), Vincent (Caze Mazda), Favy (Porsche Fouquet), Artola (Porsche Rivet), Thion (Nissan Fouquet), etc, Foucart (Rivet Mazda), Bartolin L. (Bartolin Nissan), Leclerc (Fouquet Nissan), Hiatt (Fouquet Nissan), Lefrancois (Rivet Honda), Neighbour (Voisin BMW), Brands (Fouquet BMW), etc, Omnes (Caze Kawasaki), Guillot (Caze Kawasaki).

2WD Challenge : Martins De Sousa (Cledze Suzuki), Incagaray (Cledze Suzuki), Tresarricq (Cledze Hayabusa), Lafleur (Caze Tomahawk), Cottereaux (Rivet Honda), Boucher (Fouquet Honda), Lebret (Rivet Honda), etc, Delean (Rivet Honda), Cassagnau (Delanoe Renault), Macaya M. (Phil’s Car Renault), Vimard (Phil’s Car Renault), Vautier Maxime (Vautier Volkswagen).

SSV Challenge : Noirot (Can Am), Giraud (Can Am), Sarrat (Can Am), Chabarlin (Polaris), Valente (Can Am), Pincel (Can Am).

4×4 Rally Trophy Truck : Bartolin (Nissan Pathfinder), Daigneau (Jeep Grand Cherokee), Deramaix (Suzuki Grand Vitara), Demanneville (Jeep Cherokee), Rey (Nissan Patrol), Beecroft David (Bowler Defender 90), Beecroft Daniel (Bowler Defender 90), Vanessa Ruck (Bowler Defender 90).

The Major Challanges For the French Championship

After his victory at Arzacq and his second place at Labourd, Benoit Bersans arrives in the Loiret with the leading position of the French Championship. With his faithful co-pilot, Cedric Nicolau, he intends to retain the advantage after this test very different from the first two.

For the victory on the rally, we can count on Stephan Barthe who won on the last race with his Fouquet Nissan. Also be careful to Vincent Pointelet who would like to open his victory counter this year, Daniel Favey who was unlucky at Labourd or Gregory Vincent who will launch his new Caze equipped with a rotary engine.

Always in the same class, though, Vincent Foucart love this event, he did not go very far from victory last year, he could play a place on the podium again this year. We will also monitor the performance of’Alexander Thion, Denis Artola, Laurent Bartolin, Jean-Michel Leclerc and Stephen Hiatt’s which will certainly be first-rate sizes this weekend.

In the intermediate class, Thomas Lefrancois, currently second in the Championship, will be the logical favorite with his Rivet Honda. With his co-pilot Jeremy Guerin, it may be penalized by the lack of power against large engines but the agility of the buggy and the talent of the Norman crew could erase this gap. Behind, it will be necessary to count on the BMW Fouquet Jean-Alfred Brands, the Flexcar Honda de Fabrizio Bovio and the BMW Neighbor’Antoine Voisin.

In T1A1, Cyril Omnes should still make sparks with his Caze but be careful to Xavier Gaudemer or yet Mickael Guillot’s and Franck Olivier who will discover their mounts on this fast track.

For the 2WD Challenge

With a large lead in the Challenge Kevin Martins De Sousa will start the event with one goal, victory! Supported for the occasion by Robin Moroch, the Cledze driver will try to increase his lead in order to approach the second part of the season calmly.

In the same class, however, Xabi Incagaray will try to give him the reply with his Cledze just like Vincent Tresaricq who won’t make the trip for nothing. Often at the front, though, Sebastien Lafleur will also aim for a place on the podium with his Tomahawk.

On these extremely fast tracks, Gregory Cottereaux will try to make the most of his Rivet Honda in order to go for the victory just like Gregory Boucher who will return to competition with his Fouquet Honda. Other drivers will be to watch as Denis Lebret’s (Rivet Honda), Florent Delean’s (Rivet Honda) and Maxime Vautier (Vautier Volkswagen). The buggies of the “Legend Group” will be well represented with Jordan Cassanau, which, let us remember, occupies the second provisional place of the Challenge 2RM 2024 with its Delanoe Renault.

For the SSV Challenge

As since the start of the season, we should witness a high-level fight between Valentin Giraud, current leader of the 2024 SSV Challenge and Guillaume Noirot, recent winner of the category on the Labourd rally. Eric Sarrat should once again aim for the small step of the podium but he will have to come up against the Can Am of the formidable Antonio Valente and Mickael Pinçon and the Polaris of Rémy Chabarlin.

For the 4×4 Trophy

On the side of the 4×4, the tray is rather supplied with no less than 13 vehicles. The norman, Bruno Bartolin will be the favorite of the category with its Nissan Pathfinder. The resistance should come from the British 7 engaged with their Bowler Defender 90 with as leaders, David and Daniel Beecroft or the female pilot Vanessa Ruck. Also pay attention to the usual ones Fabien Daigneau (Jeep Grand Cherokee), Dominique Deramaix (Suzuki Grand Vitara), Thomas Demanneville (Jeep Cherokee) and Bruno Rey’s (Nissan Patrol).

For the rest of The FFSA article see here.

For the rest of The Actumecanique article 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.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on  Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.