Desert Expedition: Toyota Adventurers Launch Rally Venture in Jordan and Saudi Arabia
In a significant move towards promoting women in motorsport and strengthening Toyota's presence in the region, the Japanese automobile giant has sent two of its employees, Hanae Kitahara and Rio Nagayabu, to participate in Rally Jameel, a women-only rally event held in Saudi Arabia.
Rally Jameel, the first motorsport event for women in the country since the ban on women drivers was lifted, is a navigation rally focusing on navigational skills rather than speed. The event, conceived to empower women, drew 82 participants (41 teams) from 37 countries this year.
Hanae Kitahara, an employee of the GR Motorsports Business Division, and Rio Nagayabu, from the GR Marketing Division, will be rally drivers for the first-ever Japanese entry in the event, TGR Sakura Japan. The team's participation was proposed by Satoshi Toyooka, Acting General Manager of the Advanced Technical Skills Institute Division, following a suggestion from Toyota's GR Company.
Chief Expert Satoshi Maruta from the Advanced Technical Skills Institute Division was enlisted to accompany the two drivers and provide support during the event. The Advanced Technical Skills Institute Division, to which Toyooka and the drivers belong, was confident in its ability to ensure safety while participating.
Chairman Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo, gave his blessings to the team participating in Rally Jameel. This decision was made to provide the employees with a valuable experience and to strengthen Toyota's presence in the region.
Rio Nagayabu is known for her hard work in promoting motorsports and creating more car fans from a female perspective. Hanae Kitahara is part of the group behind the World Rally Championship (WRC) activities and is also a group manager nurturing team members.
Yoichi Minamiyama, General Manager of GR Motorsports Business Division, nominated Hanae Kitahara and Rio Nagayabu for the Rally Jameel event. The participation aligns with regional goals of empowerment, inclusion, and cultural progress, reflecting both Toyota’s and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives.
Both Kitahara and Nagayabu expressed their desires for the race. Nagayabu wants to enjoy the experience, communicate with other women drivers, and stand on the podium, while Kitahara aims to help Nagayabu win and finish the race, taking the experience back to their colleagues at Toyota.
Local Saudi women participants, like a mother and daughter, expressed their excitement about driving and competing in Rally Jameel, seeing it as a revolution that opens up possibilities for women and being part of the movement that lifted the ban on female drivers.
One participant shared her motivation for returning to Rally Jameel, stating that she wanted to be part of the adventure again, as it represents a new challenge in Saudi Arabia. Abdul Latif Jameel Vice Chairman Hassan Jameel shared his vision for Rally Jameel two years ago, emphasizing its significance and expressing his desire to keep competing in many more events.
Sports and motorsport are intertwined in the ambitious endeavors of Toyota, as the company sends employees Hanae Kitahara and Rio Nagayabu to compete in the Rally Jameel, a women-only sports event in Saudi Arabia. Their participation promises to not only strengthen Toyota's presence in the region but also promote women in sports, reflecting both Toyota’s and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives.
