It's amazing what a bit of confidence can do. Tunisia's Hend Chaouch may be short of sponsors, but she certainly does not lack commitment as she heads into the UAE Marlboro Desert Challenge with the distinction of being the world's first and only Arab lady driver.


Hend Chaouch. ©Gulf News
"I'm really happy and proud to be the first Tunisian, Arab and Muslim girl in motor-rallying," Chaouch proclaimed yesterday. "People used to believe rallying was a man's sport, a very macho sort of thing. But times have changed.

"There are capable women in world rallying today, like Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt," she told Gulf News. "And we are here to stay, to compete."

Chaouch, who will be at the wheel of a rapidly prepared stand-by Toyota HDG 80 in the 2,500km FIA World Rally event, does not rate her chances very highly, but believes that winning isn't everything.

"Sport is much greater," she says. "It brings people of different cultures and aspirations together. I believe that it also helps spread the message of peace, which is so important in our world today. I'm here to compete, but I'm also here to spread the message of friendship and peace."

Chaouch, who has a Masters Degree in English and Japanese and has studied Advertising and Mass Communications in Minnesota, is proud of her accomplishments, both professionally and as a rally driver.

"I've been racing for the past seven years and it's been such fun," she says in all honesty.

"Obviously I don't expect to beat the professionals because I don't have the experience. But I can assure you that I will try very hard to finish at the top.

"This is my first Desert Challenge so it's going to be an all new experience for me. I don't really like the sand and the dunes although we have a lot of them in Tunisia. I hear they're a lot higher here, so I'm hoping I can get through and be there at the finish.

"To tell you the truth, my goal is to complete the rally. I'm not expecting too much, considering that this is my first time in the UAE and I'll be racing a stand-by car. But my mission is to be there at the finish and to fly the Tunisian flag," she says.

"I want to show the world that Arab women can achieve something in sport. So when I compete I represent all the Arab women in the world and I'll be holding the flag not only as a competitor, but as an ambassador."

Chaouch's best result on the FIA World Series was a 12th place in last year's Rally of Tunisia, which was the fourth round of the world championship.

"That was really nice. A big achievement for me. Hopefully I can repeat it here in Dubai. But like I said before, I'll be happy just to finish," she says. "It's a tough, long event and the cars take a real beating. Our strategy will be to preserve the car over the five days and then hope for the best.

"I'd like to believe that I can get a good result, but I won't be disappointed if I don't."