Valentina Pertegarini

Valentina Pertegarini made history as the first woman to win a World Rally-Raid Championship title, claiming the 2024 FIA Rally Raid Challenger co-drivers’ crown alongside her husband and driving partner, Nicolás Cavigliasso.

EARLY YEARS

Born January 10, 1992, in General Cabrera, Córdoba, Argentina, Valentina Pertegarini came from a background far removed from the dust and danger of rally-raid racing. She studied economics and built a career in that field before the lure of motorsport pulled her in a completely different direction. After initially joining Nicolás Cavigliasso’s support team, she discovered she had a talent for navigation that would eventually rewrite the record books.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before strapping into a rally car, Pertegarini worked as an economist—a career that required precision, analytical thinking, and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure. Sound familiar? Those same skills translate beautifully to the navigator’s seat, where split-second calls and flawless roadbook reading can mean the difference between victory and disaster. Her dream of racing at Dakar eventually overpowered the spreadsheets, and she traded financial forecasts for GPS coordinates.

EARLY SUCCESS

Pertegarini’s transition from support crew to co-driver happened in 2021 when she joined Cavigliasso in the Argentinean rally-raid championship. The chemistry was immediate—not just romantic, but competitive. By 2022, the pair had graduated to the World Rally-Raid Championship, and Pertegarini quickly proved she belonged. With only two Dakar rallies under her belt and in just her second complete W2RC season, she lifted the FIA Rally Raid Challenger co-drivers’ title in 2024, becoming the first woman ever to claim a World Rally-Raid Championship crown[1].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Made her debut as co-driver alongside Nicolás Cavigliasso in the Argentinean rally-raid championship[2].
• 2022: Competed in her first full W2RC season in the Challenger category[3].
• 2024: Became the first woman to win a World Rally-Raid Championship title, claiming the FIA Rally Raid Challenger co-drivers’ championship[4].
• 2024: Honored at the FIA Awards gala in Rwanda for her historic championship win[5].
• 2025: Won the Dakar Rally in the Challenger class alongside Cavigliasso, capping off what the couple described as “the best year of our lives”[6].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Pertegarini’s specific inspirations is not available in the provided research.

REPUTATION

Pertegarini has earned respect for shattering stereotypes in one of motorsport’s most grueling disciplines. Rally-raid is not just physically demanding—it’s mentally exhausting, requiring navigators to guide drivers through thousands of kilometers of unforgiving terrain with nothing but a roadbook and instinct. Her rise has been meteoric: from economist to support crew to world champion in just a few years. She and Cavigliasso have become one of the sport’s most formidable married duos, known for their relentless consistency and ability to deliver when it counts. The fact that she claimed a world title with minimal experience speaks volumes about her natural talent and work ethic. She’s not just breaking barriers—she’s obliterating them.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

After their stunning 2025 Dakar Rally victory and Pertegarini’s 2024 championship, the couple returned for the 2026 Dakar Rally, determined to defend their title and continue their winning streak[7]. They’re also competing in the 2025 W2RC season, including events like the South African Safari Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, where they’re aiming to reclaim the championship lead from their BBR Motorsport teammates[8]. For Pertegarini and Cavigliasso, the goal is clear: keep winning, keep making history, and keep proving that talent has no gender.

References:

[1] Argentine becomes first woman to win World Rally-Raid Championship title – Buenos Aires Herald
[2] Profile of Valentina PERTEGARINI – NICO CAVIGLIASSO – World Rally-Raid Championship
[3] Profile of Valentina PERTEGARINI – NICO CAVIGLIASSO – World Rally-Raid Championship
[4] W2RC 2025: A SEASON-LONG MELODRAMA – World Rally-Raid Championship
[5] 2024 FIA Awards, Al Attiyah and Boulanger crowned in Rwanda – Dakar
[6] Profile of NICO CAVIGLIASSO – VERTICAL MOTORSPORT – Dakar
[7] Meet the Women Striving for Success at the 2026 Dakar Rally – Females in Motorsport
[8] FMN News South Africa – FIM AFRICA