The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship marked an important milestone in 2023 with the introduction of the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS. With Hard Enduro enjoying strong growth, championship promoters WESS GmbH felt it was time to promote diversity and inclusion in the sport that’s traditionally been seen as male-dominated.
Words and Feature Image by FIM Hard Enduro World Championship
- Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS announced in 2023
- The award was set up to promote diversity and inclusion in HEWC
- Six trophies were awarded in 2023
GASGAS PUT SUPPORT BEHIND FEMALE COMPETITION IN HARD ENDURO
GASGAS welcomed the opportunity to be a driving force in what was a new initiative for 2023. As a fun, dynamic and exciting voice in offroad motorsport, GASGAS were the perfect fit to promote and encourage female participation in Hard Enduro.
With the clear goal of highlighting the place of women in motorsport, along with encouraging others to participate, the stage was set to shine a light on some of the amazing performances by female racers during the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
In total, six Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS trophies were awarded during this year’s championship. All recipients had exciting and empowering stories to tell.
ROUND ONE WINNER – TASMIN JONES
Britain’s Tasmin Jones took the inaugural Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS at round one’s Xross Hard Enduro Rally in Serbia. A veteran of Enduro and a former Dakar Rally competitor, Tasmin made a return to international competition in Serbia following a recent break. Proving there’s no substitute for drive and determination in Hard Enduro, Tasmin battled through four tough days of racing to reach the finish line and achieve her own personal goals.
ROUND TWO WINNER – SANDRA GOMEZ
For round two at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, it was AG Racing’s Sandra Gomez who took home the trophy. As one of the world’s best female competitors in offroad motorcycling, Sandra is a shining light and inspiration to many aspiring female competitors around the world. Reaching checkpoint 16 – One Way Train – she finished a highly creditable 133rd overall out of the 500 competitors who took to the start line. A damaged radiator ultimately put her goals of becoming the first female racer to reach the finish line on hold, but she’s already promising a return for 2024.
ROUND THREE WINNER – TJAŠA FIFER
Red Bull Romaniacs is regarded as the world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rallye, and the winner of the event’s Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award was highly anticipated. Following five gruelling days of racing, it was Slovenia’s Tjaša Fifer who came out on top. Tjaša had previous experience at Red Bull Romaniacs having won the Iron class in 2021. However, for 2023 she wanted to push herself further and joined the bronze class. Although placing 13th on Offroad Day One and 15th on the final Offroad Day Four, it was a mechanical issue on Offroad Day Two that ultimately hampered her final position of 40th overall. Nevertheless, Tjaša was pleased by her own personal performance having overcome adversity to reach the finish line.
ROUND FOUR WINNER – KATIE LEAH-HALL
Stepping outside of Europe to Canada for round four, the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS sought to put a spotlight on hidden talent and did exactly that with Katie Leah-Hall. A relative newcomer to offroad motorcycles, Katie is already proving herself to be a fast learner. Finishing Red Bull Outliers has encouraged the Canadian to set her sights on participating in the American Hard Enduro series and possibly exploring the European racing scene. Events like Red Bull Romaniacs are on her bucket list.
ROUND FIVE WINNER – EVA TÄUBER
It was Germany’s Eva Täuber who clinched the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS trophy at round five’s 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro. Despite it being her first time in the race, Eva gave her best. A terrific ride in the opening qualification saw her earn a place on start line for the SuperEncierro Prologue. She then went on to finish an impressive 12th in the bronze class. To cap off a hugely memorable weekend, Eva was presented with the trophy by her idol Sandra Gomez. Since then, the German has has gone on to win the Women’s category in the German Hard Enduro Championship.
ROUND SIX WINNER – SANDRA GOMEZ
At the final stop of the 2023 season, nothing could stop Sandra Gomez from racing. Despite no room in the van to take her bike from Spain to Germany, she managed to book a last-minute flight and borrow a friend’s bike to race. Completing five laps of the GetzenRace qualifier for 45th overall, her efforts were rewarded with the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS.
After what’s been a highly successful and encouraging year for female competition in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS will continue for 2024 and continue to shine a light on more of the amazing performances by female racers.
Anna-Larissa Esterbauer – FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Communications: “It was fantastic to introduce the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS to this year’s championship. Over the years we’ve seen great rides from our female athletes go unrewarded, so it’s been great to change that. Our riders gave their all on track. Each winner had a unique and wonderful story to tell of what attracted them to Hard Enduro and what achieving their goals meant to them. I’m excited to see this grow and encourage more female riders to take on a sport like Hard Enduro.”
Winfried Kerschhaggl – FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Manager Director: “Introducing the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by GASGAS to the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship for 2023 has proved a very welcome addition. Already in year one we’ve witnessed some amazing performances by our female athletes and through the support of GASGAS have been able to recognise those efforts. We hope that by shining a light on these achievements that it will encourage more female racers to take to the start line in 2024.”
