Driving in the fast lane

The way women drivers are derided by male counterparts is an open secret in India. Even the most efficient women drivers would confess how difficult it is to bust this stereotypical bubble they have been subjected to for generations.

However, what is surprising is to see a shift in attitude when women participate in motoring rallies and show their mettle in taming treacherous terrain. They are not only applauded by male drivers, but are also encouraged to be a regular at such rallies.

“I am just two years old in car rallies but male drivers have always encouraged me. They have given me several tips on how I should modify my gypsy and what all I should do to be physically fit. There is a level of competition, but they take you very seriously because it can be anybody’s game,” Anu Rana, a finance manager, tells Metrolife.

It was Rana’s uncle who pushed her to pursue her passion. She had shown proclivity towards driving at a very young age, so driving on rough roads and dirt tracks came naturally to her. “Motor rallying is a different world altogether. It is extremely challenging and the car needs to be modified to take on those rough roads,” adds Rana, who admits she has to divide time between her profession and passion.

Things shaped a bit differently for Bani Yadav who first chose to dedicate time to her family and children. But she simultaneously nurtured her childhood dream of participating in car rallies. “Ever since I was 13, I knew this is what I wanted to do. But my parents never approved of it because 30 years ago nobody would have wanted their daughter to be a car racer. But I found the biggest support in my husband who constantly reminded me to keep dreaming till I make it happen,” 43-year-old Yadav tells Metrolife.

In fact, Delhi-based Yadav is the only and the oldest woman driver to win all major rallies in a calendar year. “The journey has been really interesting. I am so frequent at rallies now that everyone is a friend. We are a big, happy united family where men have been very supportive and appreciative. They don’t take women lightly and understand that we give them a run for money,” she adds.

Both of them are preparing to participate in Maruti Suzuki’s Raid-De-Himalaya, an annual pilgrimage for dirt riders, which will kick off on October 9 from Shimla. While they stick to yoga and meditation to stay fit and active, Yadav points out how this motorsport is strenuous on the body.

“Car rallying is physically and emotionally taxing. You are driving in the wilderness, so you have to be mentally and physically very strong. The hard ride takes a toll on your body and fatigues you completely,” she says.

Another aspect that comes with any adventurous sport is the amount of risk involved. Benguluru-based Harishta Gowda recalls how during Dakshin Dare 2015, another car racing platform, the staring of the car came into her hands. “I just lost control and didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t prepared for this mishap,” recalls Gowda.

However, her father, who accompanies her as a navigator in car rallies, came to her rescue and handled the situation. “This was the first time such a thing had happened but it was a good learning experience, I realised how I shouldn’t panic in such situations,” she adds.

Twenty-year-old Gowda started racing officially when she was 18. But she had taken to car racing when she was 12 and participated in Autocross racing by getting a-day’s driving licence.

“My father wanted to get into car racing badly, but no one supported him. So he is the one who has been pushing me. But it is an expensive sport as participation in any race means shelling out Rs 2-3 lakh, that is spent on car’s service. I know this is something I want to do, so I don’t care about anything else,” she says.