Saudi Arabia was the last country to lift its ban on women drivers. This land of stunning natural beauty is home to the women-only Rally Jameel, and GR staff have taken on the challenge!
Two GR* employees recently touched down in Saudi Arabia: Hanae Kitahara of the GR Motorsports Business Division and Rio Nagayabu of the GR Marketing Division.
*GAZOO Racing Company, which oversees Toyota’s motorsports activities.
Leaving behind their regular office jobs, they arrived as athletes—rally drivers ready to take on the desert.
Together with their Land Cruiser GR Sport, they had come to compete in Rally Jameel, an event conceived to empower women in Saudi Arabia, which was the last country to lift its ban on women drivers. (See the first part of our report for more information on Rally Jameel)
As for why the pair were taking part in this race, let’s go back to January 2025...
“Let’s go to Saudi Arabia!”
The following suggestion cropped up at a meeting of GR Company general managers:
“Jameel Motorsport, the motorsport arm of our Saudi distributor Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, is organizing Rally Jameel—why don’t we take part?”
Off-road racing in the desert? “Sounds dangerous...” Yet amid the voices of concern, one stood out: “Let’s go!” was the instant reply from Satoshi Toyooka, acting general manager of the Advanced Technical Skills Institute Division, headed by Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Morizo.
Satoshi Toyooka, Acting General Manager, Advanced Technical Skills Institute Div.
Two years ago, Abdul Latif Jameel Vice Chairman Hassan Jameel shared his vision for Rally Jameel, and it seemed like a wonderful undertaking, bringing excitement to the country through motorsports.
I also wanted us to repay the efforts they have made to boost Toyota’s presence in Saudi Arabia over the past 70 years.
In terms of safety, I was confident that the Advanced Technical Skills Institute Division could provide the necessary support. Above all, I felt we had to participate because it would be a great experience for Kitahara and Nagayabu.
The pair was nominated by GR Motorsports Business Division General Manager Yoichi Minamiyama, who shared his hopes for the event.
Yoichi Minamiyama, General Manager, GR Motorsports Business Div.
Kitahara is part of the group behind our WRC (World Rally Championship) activities. From this year, she has taken on the additional challenge of nurturing team members as a group manager. Meanwhile, Nagayabu is honest and energetic, working hard to promote motorsports and create more car fans from a female perspective.
I reached out to them because I trusted that they would face the Rally Jameel challenge with determination and then use that experience to benefit their work.
This event is Jameel Motorsport’s way of making dreams come true through motorsports. I hope that our team will put what they gain through competing to good use in GR's motorsports activities, both in Japan and around the world.
However, since neither Kitahara nor Nagayabu had any motorsports experience, Chief Expert Satoshi Maruta from the Advanced Technical Skills Institute Division was enlisted to accompany them and provide support. He not only holds the company’s qualifications for on-road and off-road driving, but also helped to develop the very Land Cruiser they would be driving—a specialist who knows his cars.
When Chairman Toyoda heard about the plan, he sent the team off with his blessings, saying, “Expanding efforts to help more women get into motorsports is incredibly important. Good luck!” Even here at Toyota Times, we were keen to have women on the ground, which is why this article is brought to you by our third-year woman reporter!
The resulting team was named TGR Sakura Japan and became the country’s first-ever entry in this event. We asked the pair how they felt just before the race.
Nagayabu: “I want to enjoy the whole experience, not just racing but also communicating with many women drivers and helping each other out!
“And since this is a competition, it would be nice to stand on the podium.”
Kitahara: “As a partner, I will do my best to help Nagayabu satisfy that desire to win. Without knowing what lies ahead, first and foremost, we will concentrate on finishing, and on taking this experience back to our colleagues at Toyota.”
Rally Jameel is just the beginning
Rally Jameel is a navigation rally, where the focus is not on speed, but rather the navigational skills required to accurately traverse a set route. Relying on the provided roadbook and a GPS system that indicates the direction and distance traveled, the driver and co-driver work together to reach the goal. These roles can be freely switched during the event.
This year, the event’s fourth, drew 82 participants (41 teams) from 37 countries. Their reasons for competing were equally diverse.
“Normally, my husband drives and I’m the co-driver. We got engaged at Rally Barbados in the Caribbean, and our wedding was at the Arctic Rally in Finland! More than winning, I enjoy the culture and atmosphere of each host country. This will be my first time competing as a driver, and my first rally across national borders, so I hope to reach the finish line safely.” (Participant from Ireland)
“I’ve paired up with one of the few women drivers in Bahrain with rally experience. I look forward to bouncing off-road through the desert as we work out our way to the finish!” (Participant from Bahrain)
“This is my second time competing. I came to support my teammate, who is taking on her first rally. I want to share everything I’ve learned so that she has a great time!” (Participant from Spain)
And how did local Saudi women feel about driving and competing in Rally Jameel?
This mother and daughter were first-time participants.
“I love driving, and I wanted to try racing. Then my daughter found Rally Jameel and invited me as a Mother’s Day present.
“The lifting of the ban on female drivers was a revolution. I think it will open up all kinds of possibilities for women, and I’m glad to be driving as part of that movement.”
Another participant outlined her motivation as follows:
“This is my second time competing in Rally Jameel. The first time around, I was thrilled to join this new challenge in Saudi Arabia. When I heard that this year’s event would start outside the country, I wanted to be part of the adventure again!”
When we asked what Rally Jameel meant to her, she replied, with fire in her eyes.
“It is the beginning. I want to keep competing in many more events.”