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The crews were ready for the scheduled departure in March, then in September 2020. But due to the health crisis the 30 th edition scheduled in the heart of the Moroccan desert, also in March 2021 will finally take off this Saturday, September 18, 2021 in Nice.
The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc is the only 100% female off-road Rallye-Raid in the world. Unique in its kind and since 1990, it brings together women aged 18 to 71 and of different nationalities every year in the Moroccan desert.
Since its creation, the Rallye has developed another vision of motor racing: no speed, no GPS but old-fashioned navigation, only off-track. All come to live a unique moment aboard a 4×4, a Crossover, a Quad, a truck, an electric vehicle or on a motorcycle. Objective: drive as little as possible and rally several beacons by doing the shortest possible distance.
A responsible and committed event
Since its creation, the Gazelle has been the only rally-raid in the world to be part of an environmental and civic approach at all levels. Since 2010, the rally is the only one to have obtained the ISO 14001: 2015 standard certification.
With its association Cœur de Gazelles, during the 8 days of competition, more than 50 volunteers including 35 doctors intervene and act in the field with state-of-the-art medical equipment. More and more, the association follows patients and provides them with medical assistance throughout the year. The site: coeurdegazelles.org
The nerves of the Côte-d’Oriennes put to the test
Each year crews from Côte-d’Or take the start as this year the Fa-Na du Désert. Crew 117 of Fabienne Labussière and Nadine Zunigo from Lusigne sur Ouche and Nesle and Massoult will participate in the rally on an Isuzu D-Max 4X4, or crew 221, the Kat’Rose des Sables of Katia Perrotin-Enciso and Roselyne Nivois de Magny Saint Médard will be aboard a 4X4 Nissan Navara.
Together, the crews recognize that “our nerves have been put to the test for 18 months, with moments of hope, despondency, discouragement and organization”. Taking part in the rally also means taking vacation days, and over the past few months it has taken the full understanding of their hierarchy.
Committed Côte-d’Oriennes
Involved and united, the Gazelles take part in the rally by defending a humanitarian, medical or charitable association. The Fa-Na of the desert with Fabienne Labussière and Nadine Zunigo have chosen to support Solidarité Femmes 21 Dijon chaired by Anne Joseleau. This association supports and welcomes women victims of domestic violence and tries to find solutions to get them out of these unsustainable environments. The site: solidaritefemmes21.fr
The Kat’Rose des sables, with Katia Perrotin-Enciso and Roselyne Nivois, supports the Endo-France association whose objective is to inform and support patients affected by endometriosis, which only concerns women. It is an inflammatory disease resulting in severe pain during menstrual periods and can sometimes be the cause of infertility. The site: endofrance.org
The program and the route
8 stages including 1 marathon in the middle of the Moroccan desert. More than 1000 km to be traced in the Moroccan desert. Categories: 4 × 4, truck, crossover, quad, SSV, truck, e-Gazelle vehicles and 100% electric buggy + 1 hydrogen buggy in test
This year, the 191 crews, i.e. 384 women, aged 20 to 70 and of 14 different nationalities, will join Nice this Friday, September 17 for technical and administrative checks. Arrive in Erfoud in Morocco on Monday. The first round, the prologue, will take place on Wednesday 22 September. Official arrival on Essaouira beach on Saturday October 2.
More info to come about Les Fa-Na du Désert, crew 117 of Fabienne Labussière and Nadine Zunigo of Lusigne sur Ouche and Nesle and Massoult and crew 221, Kat’Roses des Sables of Katia Perrotin-Enciso and Roselyne Nivois from Magny Saint Médard. In the meantime, these Gazelles are to be followed on all social networks.
Norbert Banchet
The site: rallyeaichadesgazelles.com
L
e Kat’Rose des Sables with Katia Perrotin-Enciso and Roselyne Nivois 
The Fa-Na of the Desert, crew 117 with Fabienne Labussière 
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