Fri 06 Sep 2024

Hassoun has high hopes for Driver Development Programme

In the heart of the Middle East, the small but energetic country of Lebanon lists rallying as one of the most passionate pursuits and Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme finalist Joanna Hassoun is ready to take full advantage of her opportunity.

Starting her journey in karting at the tender age of eight, she persevered through numerous challenges, eventually clinching a domestic championship title at 17 years old.

Whilst the voyage from karting to rallying is not often an obvious one, Lebanon bucks the trend and that saw the 20-year-old transition from the circuits to the stages in 2022 behind the wheel of a Renault Clio RS.

“It's natural for every driver in Lebanon to finish karting and when they turn eighteen, they start rally,” says Joanna. “It is the route for drivers here to do that and for me, rally was my passion.”

Despite the country's limited number of rallies, her participation in the Middle East Rally Championship qualifier Rally of Lebanon has brought significant attention to the sport.

“When I started rallying in Lebanon, I was the only girl but after they saw me competing other girls joined as they started to see me. It gave me great exposure and it meant that people saw rally more because I was in it, before it wasn’t common to see girls in rally here.”

Whilst her friend, 2022 WRC E-Sports Champion Sami Joe chose the path of E-Sports, Joanna remains captivated by the thrill of rallying.

“Sami used to do karting with me. He was every year a Lebanese champion and then stopped to start E-Sports. We got together last week as I had a rally and he came to watch so we talked a lot about the WRC and the programme, he is excited for me.”

Joanna is honoured to attend the three-day training camp [16-18 September] at M-Sport Poland. “I’m very proud to represent Lebanon. I’d love for it to be seen outside [of the country].”

“Never be afraid to ask questions” she continues. “People will never turn you down when you ask questions. Don’t fear the challenge; turn it into a positive that makes you push to do better.

Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.”

Europe
Starts: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 8:00:00 AM
Poland
Starts: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 9:30:00 AM
Turkey
Starts: Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 5:00:00 AM