Saudi women can now drive, and Aseel Al-Hamad celebrates it with a Jaguar F-Type

As hard as it may be to believe, there was still one country in the world that did not legally allow women to drive. And I say “was”, because from midnight last night, Sunday 24 June 2018, that ban has disappeared. Women in Saudi Arabia can now get behind the wheel. And the Kingdom’s law, one of the most male-dominated and most contrary to personal freedom in the world, will be the same “for men and women“.

Church bells need not be rung just yet, because women are still controlled by Saudi men. At least they are achieving small steps that will allow them to keep improving their situation and reach the level of Western countries. But driving on the road was not the only milestone reached yesterday in the Arab country.

Aseel Al Hamad is the name of the first woman member of the Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation, and to celebrate what the country’s various social forces have achieved, she took part in a proposal launched from the circuit that hosted the French Grand Prix. On that circuit she got behind the wheel of the same Lotus E20 with which Kimi Räikkönen won in Abu Dhabi in 2012.

Mind you, she is no ordinary Saudi citizen, because she is a woman who has driven all over the world, has taken part in races and enjoys making her Ferrari 458 Spider roar around the circuits. But she had never driven in her own country, and that happened thanks to Jaguar, which placed a Jaguar F-Type at her disposal. With this marvel of a car she became the first woman to race on a Saudi track.

The driver’s intention is that this 24 June 2018 be remembered and celebrated as World Driving Day, the International Day of Driving. Jaguar wanted to join this movement and promoted the hashtag #worlddrivingday so that all drivers, men and women, can share their best driving anecdotes.

The removal of the obstacles to women driving in Saudi Arabia is a milestone, but there is still a long way to go. At least it seems things are heading in the right direction, and although slowly, equality is gaining ground across the world.

https://youtu.be/wiTzb5Cli2Y

Technical specifications of this car

RoadsterJaguar F-Type8 versions · from 82,600 €