PUCK KLAASSEN Makes Dakar History with Stage 3 Win in Challenger Category

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January 8, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

PUCK KLAASSEN just became the fifth woman in Dakar Rally history to win a stage, claiming victory in Stage 3’s Challenger category at just 22 years old. The South African driver joins an elite group that includes Jutta Kleinschmidt, Cristina Gutiérrez, Sara Price, and Dania Akeel – proving once again that when women get the machinery and opportunity, they deliver results that speak for themselves.
Her journey to this moment shows the power of persistence over flash. KLAASSEN made her Dakar debut in 2024 with her father, stepped up to Challenger in 2025 despite inevitable setbacks, then spent the season grinding through the World Rally-Raid Championship. That eighth-place finish at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge wasn’t luck – it was a preview of what consistent development work produces.
What makes this win even sweeter is that KLAASSEN has been actively developing the vehicle she’s racing, working with KTM and G-Rally team on a new concept car. Too often we see women drivers handed subpar equipment and expected to be grateful for the chance. Here’s a driver who’s not just competing but actually shaping the future of the machinery – that’s how you build sustainable success in this sport.