Dubai: Two Dubai-based ladies have made it to the pinnacle of the Sodi World Series (SWS) rankings for the first time in the tournament’s history this month.
Seventeen-year-old Abi Birch tops the rankings and 30-year-old Nadia Khan is third. Both are regulars in the male-dominated SWS Sprint Series at Dubai Kartdrome.
Birch sought to dispel the perception that women couldn’t compete with men. “I don’t think it’s hard being a women in SWS,” she said. “The karting community in Dubai and globally have made it really easy for women to participate. There are no drawbacks to being a woman in motorsport. The fastest driver wins whether male or female.
“As soon as I get out the kart the other male drivers come to talk to me about how I can improve, they show me the better lines to take to become quicker. They are generally very helpful,” she added.
Khan agreed: “Once the helmet goes on, you are just another competitor, gender is irrelevant. I am out there trying to win, and so is everyone else. To the other competitors, you are just another driver they are trying to beat.
“Some of the boys do not like being beaten by girls, but the majority were very supportive and helpful. Now I am just another competitor and I think that is a sign of mutual respect,” she added.
Kartdrome manager Ryan Trutch said: “Increasingly we are seeing women drivers participating in leisure karting sessions at our venue, and inevitably they will be attracted to serious competition. Nadia and Abi are good examples of how women can compete on equal terms with men, in a sport that is very demanding.”
