Jordanian set to become WRC's first Arab female driver

While the focus will be on the battle for the FIA drivers and manufacturers championships when the WRC visits Jordan for the first time this month, one Jordanian lady will be looking to create a little slice of history herself.

Abir Batikhi has become the first lady of Middle East Rallying with regular appearances in the regional series over the past decade, but she is relishing the step up to the world’s biggest stage, and will be the first Arab woman to do so.

“It is going to be a truly memorable occasion and I want to do it for all Arab Women from across the region,” said Batikhi, who has become one of the Kingdom’s most popular rally drivers and boasts a huge army of fans. “I hope that by competing, it will help to break down all the stereotypes that people have of Arab women and show that we are just as important as the men and play a big role in society here.”

Batikhi has competed in the Jordan Rally championship every year since 2002 when she won the Group N classification. She won the class again in 2003 and took the Group A title in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2007 she finished fifth overall in the championship.

Batikhi and co-driver Mike Haddad, also from Jordan, will drive a Group N Subaru Impreza on the event which gets underway on 24th April.