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Puck Klaassen is a Dutch-South African rally raid driver who became the fifth woman in history to win a Dakar Rally stage and didn’t exactly take the traditional route—her very first rally was the Dakar itself.

EARLY YEARS

Born October 8, 2002, in the Netherlands, Puck grew up in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where her father Sebastiaan owns a vineyard. Her relationship with motorsport started young—she was racing go-karts as a kid before diving headfirst into motocross at age 12. For years, she tore it up on two wheels, building the kind of grit and reflexes that would serve her well later. But at 19, a leg injury from motocross forced her to reconsider her path. Instead of seeing it as a setback, she made the switch to four wheels—a transition that would change everything.

Her father Sebastiaan, who passed on his love of outdoor activities and extreme sports, became more than just an influence. In 2024, the two teamed up at the last minute to compete in the Dakar Classic, navigating a Porsche Martiny together. She was 21, he was 53, and they tackled one of the world’s toughest off-road events as a father-daughter duo—a bonding experience most families can’t even imagine.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she’s not behind the wheel, Puck is all about the outdoors. Her hobbies include extreme sports, fitness, travel, and—surprise—motorsports. At 1.59 meters and 55 kilograms, she’s compact, fierce, and clearly not afraid of a challenge. She’s sponsored by G-Rally, KTM, Seasonic, and Vuurberg, a roster that speaks to her rising profile in the rally raid world.

EARLY SUCCESS

Here’s the kicker: Puck’s first-ever rally wasn’t some regional warm-up event. It was the Dakar. Most drivers spend years working their way up through smaller series, but not her. She jumped straight into the deep end in 2024 with the Dakar Classic alongside her dad, completing the grueling event and proving she could handle the pressure, the navigation, the terrain, and the sheer madness of it all.

By 2024, she was ready to step up. Her first race in the modern Challenger class came at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, where she finished 8th—a solid debut with Argentine co-driver Augusto Sanz. The partnership clicked. They started racking up stage results, podiums, and eventually, wins. At the 2025 Rallye du Maroc, she grabbed her first World Rally-Raid Championship stage win, then followed it up with her first W2RC podium. Confidence was building. Fast.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Completed Dakar Classic with father Sebastiaan Klaassen in a Porsche Martiny[1].
• 2024: Finished 8th in Challenger class debut at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge[2].
• 2025: Earned first W2RC stage win and podium finish at Rallye du Maroc[3].
• 2026: Won Stage 3 of Dakar Rally in Challenger category, becoming the fifth woman ever to win a Dakar stage[4].
• 2026: Won Stage 8 of Dakar Rally by just three seconds over Dania Akeel, marking the first all-female one-two finish in Dakar history[5].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father Sebastiaan is clearly a major influence—not just for introducing her to motorsports and the outdoors, but for actually competing alongside her. Their Dakar Classic run wasn’t just a publicity stunt; it was a genuine partnership that gave her invaluable experience and confidence. Beyond family, she’s been shaped by the extreme sports culture she grew up around in South Africa and the competitive fire she developed racing motocross as a teenager.

REPUTATION

At just 22 years old when she made headlines in early 2025, Puck has already earned serious respect in the rally raid community. She’s known for being fearless, composed under pressure, and remarkably talented given how recently she transitioned to cars. Winning a Dakar stage on only her second modern Dakar attempt? That’s not luck—that’s skill. Her Stage 8 win in 2026, decided by a mere three seconds after a 480-kilometer stage, showed she’s not just fast, she’s clutch. And pulling off the first-ever all-female one-two with Dania Akeel cemented her place in motorsport history. She’s approachable, grounded, and refreshingly unpretentious—a racer who skipped the usual ladder and landed right where she belongs.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Heading into Dakar 2026, Puck expressed huge confidence after ending the 2025 season with her first W2RC podium and stage win. Her partnership with co-driver Augusto Sanz has grown strong, and she’s optimistic about their continued progress. With the momentum from her historic stage wins and the support of G Rally Team behind her in a KTM X-BOW, she’s clearly setting her sights on consistent podium finishes and possibly an overall Challenger class title. The trajectory is steep, and she’s riding it all the way up.

REFERENCES

[1] Profile of PUCK KLAASSEN – G Rally Team – Dakar
[2] Profile of Puck KLAASSEN – KTM X-BOW POWERED BY G RALLY – World Rally-Raid Championship
[3] DAKAR: KLAASSEN MAKES HISTORY, FORD BITES BACK – Motorsport.co.za
[4] Puck Klaassen makes history with Challenger stage win – Rally Tracks
[5] Puck Klaassen wins by three seconds over Akeel in historic women’s 1-2 – Rally Tracks
SA’s Puck Klaassen Makes History as 5th Woman to Win a Dakar Stage – Good Things Guy
This Father-Daughter Team is Taking on the Dakar Classic – Expedition Portal
The driver whose first rally was the Dakar – DirtFish
Puck Klaassen – Taking on the World Rally Raid – LW Mag
PUCK KLAASSEN’S DAKAR CLASSIC JOURNEY – Motorsport.co.za
Puck Klaassen: “Out of a 480-km stage, three seconds is crazy” – Dakar
Dania Akeel: “I did a good job” – Dakar