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Rebecca Busi is the Italian rally driver who went from zero racing experience to finishing the Dakar Rally on her first attempt—and she did it while juggling a master’s degree in business.

EARLY YEARS

Born on February 20, 1996, Rebecca grew up surrounded by engines thanks to her father’s lifelong passion for motorsports[1]. She first got behind the wheel at 14 years old, inspired by her dad’s love for racing—particularly his dream of competing in the Dakar Rally[2]. But unlike most racers who start karting as kids, Rebecca didn’t follow the traditional path. She pursued academics first, earning a degree in Economics and Management before heading to Barcelona for a master’s in International Business at EAE Business School[3]. While her classmates were planning corporate careers, she was plotting her route to the world’s toughest desert race.

OTHER INTERESTS

Rebecca delivered a TEDx talk titled “Chase Your Dream” at EAE Business School Women, proving she’s as comfortable on stage as she is navigating sand dunes at speed[4]. She’s also made a cameo appearance in the 2024 motorsport film Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia, playing rally legend Fabrizia Pons[5]. Her favorite driver? Niki Lauda—a man who knew a thing or two about grit and coming back from the impossible[6]. Before leaving for the desert, she and her team listened to a song as a good luck wish: “I hope your dream comes true.”[7]

EARLY SUCCESS

In 2022, Rebecca made her racing debut at the Dakar Rally—not in a junior category or a regional rally, but at the Dakar. She entered the Dakar Classic category alongside her father Roberto as a father-daughter team in a Range Rover that paid tribute to the 1981 Dakar-winning vehicle[8]. It was a last-minute, uncertain bet, but she finished the race and became the youngest Italian woman to complete the Dakar Rally[9]. Talk about starting at the top. The helmet she wore? A rainbow design inspired by Lewis Hamilton, a nod to her support for the LGBTQ+ community and her belief in using her platform for visibility[10].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022: Finished the Dakar Rally in her first-ever race, becoming the youngest Italian female competitor to complete the event[11].
• 2023: Partnered with co-driver Giulia Maroni and joined the OnlyFans Racing Team in the SSV category, though they were forced to retire on day 12 at the Dakar[12].
• 2023: Clinched second place at the Sonora Rally in Mexico, earning her first championship points in the World Rally-Raid Championship[13].
• 2024: Competed in the W2RC season with South Racing Can-Am, taking third place in the SSV class in Argentina and second place at the Portugal round[14].
• 2024: Finished 22nd overall in the T4 category at the Dakar Rally, described as the hardest Dakar of her young career[15].
• 2024: Jumped to second overall at the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina after avoiding mistakes and delivering her best result of the week[16].

INSPIRATIONS

Rebecca has name-dropped rally legends Nasser Al-Attiyah and Cristina Gutiérrez as her racing heroes—and now she’s actually competing alongside them[17]. That’s the kind of full-circle moment that would make most people’s heads spin. Her racing philosophy seems to be inspired by Niki Lauda’s relentless determination and refusal to let limitations dictate the possible[18]. She’s also been vocal about the importance of representation, choosing to race with a rainbow helmet to show solidarity and spark conversation in spaces where those discussions don’t always happen easily[19].

REPUTATION

Rebecca has earned a reputation as a fast learner and a gutsy competitor who doesn’t back down from a challenge. Paddock Sorority called her story an underdog narrative on par with Brawn GP’s shocking 2009 Formula 1 championship—high praise in a sport that loves a Cinderella story[20]. She’s building her career from scratch, with no karting background or family racing dynasty behind her, just raw determination and a willingness to learn on the fly[21]. Her partnership with OnlyFans Racing turned heads—not just because of the sponsor’s name, but because she used the platform to fund her racing and prove that non-traditional sponsorships can work in motorsport[22]. By the end of 2024, she’d moved to X-Raid, signaling her continued rise in the rally-raid world[23].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Rebecca joined the X-Raid team starting in 2025, a move that signals serious ambition[24]. At 29 years old, she’s positioning herself to become a key figure at the Dakar and in the World Rally-Raid Championship[25]. She’s stated she has “a score to settle” after mechanical issues and retirements in previous years, which suggests she’s coming back hungrier than ever[26]. If her trajectory so far is any indication—going from zero racing experience to podium finishes in the W2RC in just a few years—there’s no telling how far she’ll go.

REFERENCES

[1] The story of Rebecca Busi and her first rally, the Dakar – Females in Motorsport
[2] How This Dakar Rally Sports Star Is Using Her Master In Business – BusinessBecause
[3] Rebecca Busi – Wikipedia
[4] Chase your dream | Rebecca Busi | TEDxEAEBusinessSchoolWomen – YouTube
[5] Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia – Wikipedia
[6] From zero to a hundred: meet Rebecca Busi – Racers Behind the Helmet
[7] From zero to a hundred: meet Rebecca Busi – Racers Behind the Helmet
[8] DAKAR 2022 – Rovers Magazine
[9] Rebecca Busi – Wikipedia
[10] The story of Rebecca Busi and her first rally, the Dakar – Females in Motorsport
[11] Rebecca Busi – The Story So Far – Paddock Sorority
[12] Profile of Rebecca BUSI – ONLYFANS RACING – World Rally-Raid Championship
[13] Rebecca Busi Clinches Silver at Sonora Rally! – Paddock Sorority
[14] Rebecca Busi Interview – Is It Fast
[15] Rebecca Busi – Wikipedia
[16] DESAFIO RUTA 40 YPF INFINIA 2024 – World Rally-Raid Championship
[17] Rebecca Busi – The Story So Far – Paddock Sorority
[18] From zero to a hundred: meet Rebecca Busi – Racers Behind the Helmet
[19] The story of Rebecca Busi and her first rally, the Dakar – Females in Motorsport
[20] Rebecca Busi – The Story So Far – Paddock Sorority
[21] From zero to a hundred: meet Rebecca Busi – Racers Behind the Helmet
[22] Rebecca Busi – OnlyFans Blog
[23] Rebecca Busi – Wikipedia
[24] Rebecca Busi – Wikipedia
[25] Profile of Rebecca BUSI – X-RAID TEAM – World Rally-Raid Championship
[26] Profile of Rebecca BUSI – ONLYFANS RACING – World Rally-Raid Championship