Reema Juffali

Reema Juffali, also spelt either as Reema Al Juffali or Reema Al-Juffali[1][2] (Arabic: يما الجفالي‎; born 18 January 1992), is a Saudi Arabian professional racing car driver who competes in the Formula 4 category.[3] She is the first-ever Saudi Arabian woman racing driver and also the first Saudi woman to hold a racing license.[4][5][6] In November 2019, she became the country's first woman racing car driver to take part in an international racing competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[7]

Reema Juffali
Juffali at Yas Marina, 2018
Nationality Saudi
Born (1992-01-18) 18 January 1992
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Previous series
2019
2019–20		F4 Britain
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy

Early life and education

Juffali was born and raised in Jeddah. As a child, she took an interest in cars and sports. Her interest was deemed to be ironic as the country strictly banned women to engage in driving at that time.[8] She completed her primary education at the British International School of Jeddah.[9] Juffali pursued her higher studies on International Affairs at the Northeastern University in 2010.[10]

Racing career
Juffali in her F4 car at Thruxton in April 2019

After graduation, Juffali obtained a driving license in October 2010 as she passed her driving test in the US. She obtained her racing license in September 2017, after the women to drive movement successfully ended the ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia that same month.[11] Her debut race as a professional racer came in October 2018 and registered her major career victory in December 2018.[3]

In April 2019, Juffali represented Saudi Arabia in 2019 F4 British Championship at Brands Hatch which was also her first appearance in a competitive racing event at the F4 British Championship.[12][13]

On 22 November 2019, she became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in an international racing competition in Saudi Arabia.[14] She took part in the all-electric car race 2019-20 Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy as a VIP driver; the race was held in Diriyah, a city close to Riyadh.[15][16] She is also scheduled to compete at the 2020 Formula 4 UAE Championship.

Career results
Season Series Position Car Team
2019 F4 Britain 13th Mygale–Ford M14-F4 Double R Racing
2019–20 Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy NC Jaguar I-Pace Trophy Edition Jaguar VIP Car

See also

References
  1. Reporter, Sports (2019-02-10). "Reema Al Juffali—breaking barriers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  2. "Reema Al Juffali - Ambassador of the Sean Edwards Foundation". Sean Edwards Foundation. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  3. "Reema Juffali". rj-racing.com. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  4. "Meet Saudi Arabia's First Female Racer: Reema Juffali". Harper's BAZAAR Arabia. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  5. "Reema Juffali interview: Taking the first step into motorsport is the most difficult". The National. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  6. "Reema Juffali Set To Become The First Saudi Woman To Race In An International Series Within The Kingdom". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  7. "First Saudi woman driver to race car in kingdom - Reema Juffali makes history". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  8. "Saudi Arabia's first female racing driver proves childhood dreams can come true". Arab News. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  9. "Making history from the cockpit: Reema Juffali on becoming Saudi Arabia's first female racing driver". news.northeastern.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  10. Cox, Josie (2019-10-13). "'My goal is to race at the top levels of motorsport': Reema Juffali, Saudi Arabia's first female professional racing driver, is creating a real buzz". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  11. Chopra, Anuj. "In first, Saudi woman to drive race car in kingdom". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  12. "Reema Juffali: Female Saudi driver to make F4 debut at Brands Hatch". 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  13. "Saudi race driver Reema Juffali makes F4 debut". english.alarabiya.net. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  14. "First Saudi Woman Driver To Race Car In Kingdom". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  15. "Saudi driver Reema Juffali makes history as first woman to compete in Saudi Arabia". Arab News. 2019-11-22. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  16. "First Saudi woman driver to race car in kingdom". CNA. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
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