Dania Aqeel to Arabisk London: “Cars and Bikes are Two Entirely Different Sports, Each has its Advantages”

Dania Aqeel, who has a passion for rally racing and motorsports, received the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation‘s first national competition motorcycle driving licence in 2019.

Her excitement, however, did not stop there. She entered a world of speed, fighting with the biggest names in the world to become a unique role model for Arab women as well as Saudi women.

Interviewed by: Rima Khairbek

Arabisk London Saudi Arabia got the chance to learn more about the distinct personality of Saudi professional Dania Aqeel and to explore her universe, which is marked by simplicity, inventiveness, and visionary clarity.

The first Saudi, Arab, and foreign woman to win the T3 Desert Baja Rally Championship was you, Ms. Dania Aqeel. How did you accomplish this? When did you first sense that this area was only for you? How did you get started? Did you have a purpose?

I’m grateful that I was invited to the 2020 Dakar Rally, which gave me the chance to take part in races in 2021. After learning more about the sport at that time, I decided to compete in the 2021 Eastern Province round of the Baja World Cup.

Thank God, I received the support and direction I required from the Saudi Federation because the round took place in the Kingdom. By God’s grace, I was also able to secure sponsors to help me at the first race, and I achieved my aim of finishing the rally. The objective was always to finish the rally, and thank God we managed to accumulate enough points to win the cup. I earned points to compete in the championship, which I later finished.

Your name, Dania Aqeel, appears on the roster of competitors for several international championships. Which one is your favourite, and why?

I am grateful that I was able to take part in several rounds and championships. Every title and race has a unique edge and influence. I am unable to prioritise any race or make distinctions between them.

Each one has a distinct vibe and presents a really pleasant challenge. I acknowledge that we can gain from everything. The fact that each race has a unique feature for the location is its greatest benefit. As a result, everywhere, every round and championship has a beneficial effect.

The Saudi Arabian Motor Federation granted Dania Akeel the first national competition licence for motorbike racing, making her the first Saudi woman to do so. What did this achievement mean, how did you accomplish it, and what did it signify for your career?

I worked for a consultancy firm in Dubai and lived there. I used to ride my fast motorbike to the fast track and take part in ‘Open Track Day’, which is a day when anyone is welcome to use the track.

Because I am passionate about cycling and adore the track’s ambience and surroundings, I entered the events for the local championship and came to know the Emirates’ cycling community in this way.

I only visited the track on the weekends, so this happened gradually as I got to know the locals. After my performance and speed increased, I decided to compete during the season and successfully completed the examinations needed to get my licence. The Saudi Federation approved the first licence for a woman in this profession, which is a blessing. My only goal was to have fun and feel like I was a part of a sport that I liked.

You won the 2019 Ducati Cup award for best-developing athlete in the United Arab Emirates. This raises the question of how racing a motorbike differs from racing a car.

Naturally, the primary distinction between vehicles and motorbikes is that the former has four wheels, while the latter has two.

The second is that I drove automobiles in the desert during rally events, away from the road and asphalt, but I rode bikes on the asphalt track. This is a significant and utterly different experience.

Undoubtedly, I loved riding motorbikes and racing on asphalt, but I also really liked desert rallies since we travel great distances and are in one with the environment. Thank God, I like both sports, even if each has its advantages.

Which championship is your top focus and preoccupation, and why haven’t you competed yet?

I have competed in every championship to date; thank God, I was able to meet the objectives of the ones I wanted to compete in.

The book that you authored following your injury is titled Free Fall. Are you embarking on a path of introspection and self-discovery, or are you just starting a new stage in your life? Did you successfully communicate the message you hoped to express with it?

I didn’t have a message behind my writing; I just had time at home for treatment, and I felt like I wanted to produce, and I needed to start a project like daily goals, so I decided to write short stories about simple memories that I had, whether they were about races, my school life, my family, or my time in Saudi Arabia and then in Britain as a student.

Therefore, I felt that to pass the time during treatment, I needed to create daily goals. I discovered that there was value in analysing certain situations and drawing lessons and morals from them, as well as what I gained from them. I then decided to share these with others, since I they might benefit from reading about my mistakes, lessons learnt, and insights gained.

Unquestionably, motor racing—whether a motorcycle or a rally—is seen as a risky activity. How do you handle the risk of harm and the potential for exposure to a potentially fatal collision?

Everything in life may put us in danger, of course, but I believe that if a driver respects the sport and the risks involved, they can steer clear of blunders that could result in accidents, God forbid.

Indeed, the driver is not required to drive in a manner that is uncomfortable for them. Moreover, I anticipate that the most important thing is that we strive to accomplish our objectives without going beyond our comfort zones and always feel at ease.

Who is the role model driver for you, and who is the rally star that Dania Aqeel aspires to challenge and defeat?

No one individual or name comes to me, and I admire both the competitors and the people who compete against me in races. We may learn from various people who possess particular traits.

What routines do you use to manage rigorous sports training, family responsibilities, and maintaining a healthy diet, and what habits are significant to you to accomplish this balance?

Living with my grandmother, my mother’s mother, makes family obligations extremely easy for me. We spend time together throughout the day and have lengthy conversations because she is the head of the household and her children come to visit, which makes it simple for me to see the family.

Since I live in the home of the family’s head, I take care of my physical fitness, strength, and consumption of nutritious food every day. I don’t have a season where I concentrate or a season when I relax, but I try to spend the entire year on a comfortable and robust routine that gets me ready for the races when the time comes.

You won global titles and received recognition in France. What stood out about that event, and how did you feel?

In the first year, we made great progress, thank God, and it was a great experience. By bringing together champions from around the globe, the experience broadened my perspective.

We can learn from other champions, get to know them, and benefit from their experiences. As a result, my perspective and way of thinking about this sport expanded because I discovered a variety of motorsports-related sports and a wide range of championships and races.

Does Dania Aqeel consider rallying a career or a pastime, and what are her goals and intentions for the future in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to empower Saudi women in a variety of fields?

As of right now, rallies are the focus of all of my work, but I also like it as a pastime. My goals are to win local and international championships, as well as to go to the Dakar Rally podium if God permits.

What guidance would you like to provide young Saudi women and those who share your interest but may be hindered by their circumstances?

In my opinion, if they want to work hard and participate in sports or any other kind of work, they should have faith in themselves but also be humble enough to learn from the experience of professionals in the field.

They should also avoid trying to push themselves beyond their comfort zone too quickly because comfort is the most important factor in racing, and with patience, we should be able to raise our level and performance over time.

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