TAURUS

DA

• Dania Akeel started her motorsports career as a bike rider on circuit but she isn’t just a motorsports athlete and fanatic. Having achieved a bachelor’s degree in “Modern History and Politics” from the Royal Holloway University of London and then a Master’s degree in “International Business” at the Hult International Business School in the United-States, she combines her passion with consulting, motivational speaking and book writing.
• Little did she know then in her motorbike years she would switch to off-road rallying in cars. Dania Akeel was first invited by the Saudi motorsports federation and the Dakar organisers to come and visit the event. Several test drives and experiences on various other rallies eventually led to that big step up: the Dakar.
• For her debut on the Dakar in 2022, the Jeddah native managed the performance to finish in the Top 10 in T3 class (8^th). It didn’t go quite as well the following year (2023) suffering a massive set back on day 4 that prevented her from bettering her overall position (28^th).
• After another disappointment last January when she again finished 28^th of the Dakar, this year appears to have been her break-through season. Alongside co-driver Stephane Duplé, the Saudi 36-year-old took part in the W2RC championship once again finishing 2^nd of the round in Argentina and 3^rd of the Rallye du Maroc. She even had the opportunity to race in a Toyota Hilux Ultimate T1+ car that she drove to second spot at the Qatar Baja.
• For her fourth Dakar, Akeel will be part of the BBR team driving a very competitive Taurus and dreams of making it on the final podium.