“I think there are far too few women in motorsport, not just in rally”

It's set to be a historic Dakar for Annett Fischer and Andrea Peterhansel as they become the first all-German, all-female crew to tackle the world's most famous rally in the side-by-side (SxS) category. Annett has been involved in motorsport for the past decade, after being bitten by the racing bug when a friend took her to attend a local race near Munich. A trained sports physiotherapist, she has worked with the X-Raid Mini team since 2012, although that hasn't stopped her picking up plenty of experience behind the wheel as well. In 2018 alone, she claimed excellent podium finishes at the Merzouga Rally and the Tuareg Rally (as a co-driver). The 33-year-old is now gearing up for her maiden Dakar as a competitor, which she likens to participating in the Olympic Games for the first time! Co-driver Andrea Peterhansel, on the other hand, is one of the most decorated women in Dakar history, having taken part in the rally 10 times since the mid-1990s. As well as topping the women's category four times in the bikes, she grabbed a hugely impressive fifth place in the cars in 2004, and even returned to finish in an assistance truck in 2011. Andrea's ambition for the future is to compete at the Dakar alongside her husband, record 13-time winner Stéphane Peterhansel, and the duo have already taken part in a host of rallies together, including this year's Bandama Rally and Rallye du Maroc. She recently discovered she had an inner ear problem which caused motion sickness in the co-pilot's seat, but is hopeful of overcoming the setback, enjoying a successful rally with Annett, and then returning as part of a 'Mr and Mrs Dakar' dream team with Stéphane in 2020.

AF: "I went to Morocco this year for training, and Andrea was there with her husband, learning more about being a co-driver. She asked me if I would like to go for a drive together in the dunes, and when we came back she said, 'What about Dakar? Let's go!' I was a bit surprised but of course I said yes! It was very last-minute. I had nothing to do with motorsport as a kid, but went to a race with a friend of mine and found it quite cool, so I decided to get involved as a sports physiotherapist. I turned up to a race and there was a journalist who told me, 'There are too few women in this sport, would you like to race?' That was basically my first day on the rally scene! So I entered Dresden-Breslau and went from there. I think there are far too few women in motorsport, not just in rally. There's no reason girls shouldn't go to more races, because in the cars there isn't much difference between men and women. Anyone can do it. I'd like to say to all women that it's amazing going to a race. You're fighting against nature, against yourself. I think mental strength is the most important thing for rally raid, knowing your limits and the limits of the car of course. You can't be full throttle all the time. I'm a bit excited and a bit nervous, it's going to be a big adventure. I'd just like to reach the finish line!" AP: “We are planning to drive together with Stéphane, it's his dream to do the Dakar with me! I started to prepare everything for 2019, but I was getting sick in the car, it turned out to be a problem in my inner ear. I can compensate for it with my eyes, but as soon as you don't have a horizon to focus on it's an issue. So I began physical re-education, medication, it's hard to tell how well it's working so far. With Annett we had the opportunity to go together, so I can train myself. It will be a useful test. For her it's a big dream and I'm ready to support her. We have good conditions, a good car, a good entourage, so hopefully we can make it to the end. We're looking forward to getting the best possible result."