Women have always made their way in the world of car racing with difficulty, defying all stereotypes, views and societal expectations in a field that has been dominated by men for decades. The struggle for supremacy is particularly difficult in the Middle East, but that has not buried the dreams of many women to sit behind the wheel of racing cars on the Track, especially the team of Palestinian racers who called themselves the “Speed Sisters.” In the following lines, we will introduce you to them in a quick tour and how they were an inspiration to many ambitious girls who only accept achieving their dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.
In the year 2009 in Palestine, with the support of the British Consulate in Jerusalem by providing a racing car, the pioneering team that we know today as the “Speed Sisters” was founded, and from the West Bank professional races, with their car decorated with the Palestinian and British flags, their promising career began. However, the Speed Sisters had previously had long experience competing against male racers since 2005, but their star shined brighter in 2011 after they proved their skill and established themselves as a racing team to be reckoned with.
The Speed Sisters team consists of six girls, the first of whom is the team leader, Maysoon Jayousi from Jerusalem, whose passion for driving pushed her to enter the world of car racing, and Mona Ali from Ramallah, who was one of the first female racers in Palestine, along with Marah Zahalka, who was a champion. She has been in car racing since she was 19 years old. The team also includes Nour Daoud, also from Jerusalem, and finally, Betty Saadeh, who is the only member of the team who belongs to a wealthy family in Bethlehem, and their newest member, Sahar Jawabra, who wears the Islamic hijab.
This women's team, which was able to break the traditional pattern and the idea that car racing, for a long time, was the preserve of men only, ignited the fire of enthusiasm in the hearts of girls to persevere and pursue their desires and dreams in a world in which they may find many challenges and conflicts.
Because of their journey full of challenges, perseverance, determination and excellence, their life story was told in a film that shone on the screens of the Cannes World Film Festival called “Speed Sisters”, which was filmed in the year 2015, to shed light on the courage of Palestinian Arab girls who did not accept submission or give up superiority and pitfalls. Their names are in the history of women's car racing.
Wael is an automotive content writer specializes in creating written content for Motor 283. Producing a wide range of content, including blog posts, articles, product descriptions, reviews, and technical guides related to cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles, with an unprecedented passion for cars, and motorcycles.
In the heart of the Middle East, where societal norms often dictate gender roles, one Palestinian woman is defying stereotypes and tearing up the track as a street racer and drifter. Meet Noor, a trailblazer who is not only challenging conventions but also inspiring a generation of women across the region. As a member of the Speed Sisters, the Arab world's premier female racing team, Noor is making history with every turn of the wheel.
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