Fab Fabienne leaving the men behind

Dubai: She's one of the fastest female kart racing drivers in the world having recently set the Dubai Kartdrome alight with a podium finish along with her Seychelles Racing teammates.

Introducing Fabienne Lanz, just 24 and already a name to reckon with in a male-dominated sport.

Being in a team with an exotic name like that has its perks and the Swiss-South African spent the last week in Seychelles before heading back to South Africa from where she told XPRESS about her experiences in Dubai.

"My father Peter lives in Dubai and is involved with the racing scene. It was he who told me about the third and final Championship round of the Sodi World 24hrs endurance series in Dubai. I was obviously interested having raced before at the Kartdrome," she said.

So, how was the experience?

"We have a great team with Virgin Racing test driver Andy Soucek driving for us. Everything went like clockwork and although we got a pit penalty which probably cost us the second place, I am very happy with the podium finish," she said.

Incidentally, Lanz celebrated her 24th birthday on the same day as the race and while she spends a lot of time with her father here, she also takes time out to visit the city.

"The best time for me in Dubai is at night. Everything comes alive after the sun sets," she said.

Lanz began racing when she was just nine and it has always been her dream to race. "I am very happy with how my career has progressed so far. The last two years especially have been very good. Right now I am with karts and would like to graduate to Touring cars, GT3 and DTM in Germany," she said.

No talk of women's motorsport is complete without a mention of Danica Patrick and Lanz sees the American race car driver as a role model. "What Danica has done in motorsport is incredible and although I took to racing before she became famous, I look up to her. She sets a very good example, having opened up a lot of avenues for women race car drivers," she said.

Lanz herself wants to be something of a role model, hoping to inspire Emirati girls to take up the sport. "I met this young Emirati racer, Maitha Al Ahli. She is just 16 and seemed very optimistic and passionate. I hope more girls like her come forward and join the sport," she said.

• In 2005, became the first woman driver to qualify for the Grand Finals at the Rotax World Grand Final in Lanzarote, Spain
• In 2007, made history as she finished 5th at the 2007 Vortex Super Rok World Grand Final in Lonato, Italy and became the first woman driver to finish on the podium at a Rok Final event
• Made history in 2009, as she became the first woman to qualify on pole position at the Dubai Kartdrome in the Nivea for Men 24hr Endurance series
• Also became the first woman to qualify on pole at the COSE 24hr Endurance race in Italy, March 2010
• 1,150: laps in the Dubai 24hr endurance race