
Reema Juffali
Formula racing // Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Hopefully Saudi fans can see that there is a Saudi racing driver out there and it will get them to thinking that ‘this is something I can do
Reema Juffali is Saudi Arabia’s first female professional racing driver who made history as the first Saudi woman to compete in an international motor race and founded her own racing team, Theeba Motorsport.
EARLY YEARS
Born on January 18, 1992, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Reema developed a fascination with cars and sports at a young age, despite the country’s ban on women driving at that time. She attended the British International School of Jeddah before pursuing international affairs at Northeastern University in Boston in 2010. Her passion for motorsports was kindled while watching Formula One during her college years, which ultimately led her to obtain a driver’s license in the USA and later a racing license in September 2017.
EARLY SUCCESS
Juffali embarked on her motorsports journey in 2018, debuting in both the TRD 86 Cup and the MRF Challenge. In April 2019, she represented Saudi Arabia in the F4 British Championship where she successfully scored points in her first international single-seater campaign. Later that year, she made history as the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in an international racing competition within her homeland, participating in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy in Riyadh. Her early career continued with the 2020 Formula 4 UAE championship and the 2021 GB3 championship, racing at renowned circuits like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2017: Obtained her racing license in September, coinciding with the lifting of the driving ban on women in Saudi Arabia[1].
- 2018: Debuted her racing career in the TRD 86 Cup and MRF Challenge[1].
- 2019: Became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in the F4 British Championship and the first to race in an international competition in Saudi Arabia at the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy in Riyadh[1].
- 2021: Participated in the GB3 championship, racing at prestigious circuits including Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps[1].
- 2022: Founded Theeba Motorsport and secured second place in the Pro-Am category of the International GT Open[1].
- 2022: Achieved second place in the 24-hour endurance race in Dubai with her team[2].
- 2023: Became the first female racing driver to achieve a pole position in the sprint cup in the GT World Challenge Europe[1].
- 2024: Announced as the wildcard entrant for the first round of the 2024 F1 Academy Racing Series in Jeddah[1].
REPUTATION
Since breaking barriers as Saudi Arabia’s first female racing driver in 2018, Reema has established herself as a formidable talent in motorsports. Her historic achievements include becoming the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete internationally in her home country and the first to win an international motor race with Theeba Motorsport in the 2022 International GT Open. Juffali made history again by claiming pole position in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup as both the first female and first Saudi Arabian driver to achieve this milestone. Her dedication extends beyond personal achievement through founding Theeba Motorsport, which aims to provide educational opportunities for emerging talent and increase Saudi Arabian participation in motorsport.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Reema’s long-term aspiration is to compete at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, a goal she is pursuing with her team, Theeba Motorsport. She aims to make Theeba the first Saudi racing team to compete at Le Mans, working alongside experienced racer Adam Christodoulou, who coached her early in her career. Through Theeba Motorsport’s educational internship and apprenticeship programs, she plans to foster greater Saudi Arabian involvement in motorsport and create pathways for future generations of racers from her homeland.
References:
Reema Juffali Wikipedia
Reema Juffali Takes First F1 Academy Wildcard Spot in Jeddah
Reema Juffali: The Saudi Racer Starting Her Own Team
Arab News: Reema Juffali
Grazia ME: Reema Juffali Saudi Racing Driver
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