THE din of revving supercharged engines permeates the desert air as the driver pulls up to the start point. Clad in black, an official starts the countdown while standing in the most perilous spot of all — in front of a massive mountain of horsepower.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The powerful 4x4 vehicles lurch forward in a plume of black smoke, leaving a dust cloud and screaming fans in their wake.
This scene was played out again and again, at the beginning of nearly every race at the Cholistan Jeep Rally. Traditionally, it is an event dominated by male drivers, with over 135 taking part this year. But also in the field are six women racers, who have come a long way to take part in this competitive sport.
Xulaykha Niazi and Nida Wasti are the newly-crowned champions, winning the women’s prepared and stock categories, respectively.
For the former, it is a heady sensation — this was her first time competing in Cholistan, having earlier raced in Jhal Magsi, Thal and the northern areas.
“No woman comes alone. A lot of us stepped into this field after getting married… we wouldn’t have got permission to if we wanted to do so earlier,” she says, explaining the myriad barriers that bar the entry of more women into the motorsport arena.
A lot of women have the potential to excel, but they can’t participate because their families can’t support them all the way.
She says that with races being held in remote areas where means of communication are scant it is difficult for women to come out on their own.
“There’s so much talent, but they lack support. If families see their children are talented, please encourage them and allow them to flourish. It’s a slow process, but not impossible,” is her message to parents of aspiring women racers.
The Lahore-based Mianwali native developed a love for the octane-fuelled competition after watching her husband race.
Xulaykha says she honed her craft by driving in tough conditions in the northern areas of Pakistan, then watched all the videos she could and practiced on the track to boost her confidence and improve her reflexes.
But Nida Wasti, the 27-year-old Karachiite, is more conscious of the privilege that competing at the highest level affords her.
It isn’t a cheap hobby, she says, pointing out that “one needs to own a properly equipped car.”
Then there is the question of chaperones; “Having a family member travel with women drivers who come to far-flung areas to compete in week-long competitions isn’t possible for everyone, especially those who have day jobs.”
But she was all praise for the arrangements made at the event. “I’m sure a lot of families are concerned about security and safety but I can assure you that it’s safe, everyone is respectful and makes you feel comfortable. Families should support and encourage girls if they have the ability. I can’t wait for my next race,” she tells us, excitedly.
Nida says her family played a major part in her getting into motorsports. Her brother, Naveed, who has been into the racing scene since 2012, encouraged and trained her and entered her in her first rally in Hub last year, where she clinched the third position.
“Seeing my potential, my brother stopped racing and focused on training me instead. In the Gwadar rally that I won, he was my navigator.”
Family also features prominently in the story of Palwasha Khan. The 19-year-old from Islamabad was ‘driven’ towards the sport by her father, who is an avid motorsport buff, thanks to his own membership of an off-roading club.
“When I was 16 or 17, my father asked me if I wanted to race. When I turned 18 last year, he got me into my first rally in Cholistan, where I was the youngest racer. Family support makes you unstoppable,” she told Dawn.
Palwasha and her navigator are also the only female duo in the racing community, with all other women in the field being accompanied by men.
Despite crawling upwards, the number of women participants in car races as compared to men has been alarmingly low over the past couple of years — there were four each in Cholistan, the last Jhal Magsiand Thar tournaments and three in Hub, while Thal and Gwadar saw promising women entries from previous years with eight and six, respectively, with dozens of male contestants.
Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2022