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After the Rallye des Gazelles in Morocco and the Rebelle Rallye de Californie, Laurence Belloeil and Fanny Marchesi take on the W'Oman & Man Aventura Cup (November 23-29) on the mythical dunes of the Sultanate of Oman.
With just a few days to go before the start of the W'Oman & Man Aventura Cup, the "Irma's Rebelles" crew of Laurence Belloeil (driver) and Fanny Marchesi (co-driver) are gearing up for a new adventure. A total of sixteen crews will cover 1,250 kilometers over five stages, using maps and compasses, and all without any electronic navigation equipment! A real tour de force to which Fanny and Laurence are becoming accustomed. Interview from the pits.
Why did you put this Aventura Cup on your sporting calendar?
Laurence: This is our 3rd rally together, and all 3 are different. We love going on adventures, and before doing the Rallye des Gazelles in 2021, we'd already talked about doing the Adventura Cup, so here we are!
How did you prepare for this rally-raid?
Fanny: Despite the stress of the start, we're a little more relaxed than on other rallies. We're used to it, but that doesn't mean we can't revise our navigation and road book to be totally ready.
This Aventura Cup will be run in a 4x4... is this your preferred type of vehicle?
Laurence: On this event, we'll be aboard a 250hp Toyota Land Cruiser. All the competitors have the same vehicle, to avoid any inequalities. So it's going to come down to navigation and strategy. But in fact, when it comes to driving, I prefer the quad to the 4x4.
Fanny: Personally, I prefer the buggy, which is the vehicle we had at the Rallye des Gazelles in Morocco. It's much easier to get into difficult-to-access places than a 4x4. When it comes to dunes, there's more risk of getting stuck or wobbling in a 4x4 than in a buggy or quad.
What's the hardest thing to overcome during a rally-raid in the Omani desert?
Laurence: Tiredness, because the days are long and the competition is tough, so there's no room for error! You have to be constantly focused on your route and stay on course.
You'll be disconnected from everything, alone with compass and map in the middle of the desert... are you a little apprehensive?
Fanny: Yes, the vehicle and the place are different. We're arriving in totally unknown territory and we don't know what kind of desert we're going to be dealing with. You have to adapt quickly to this new environment. And then you're constantly questioning yourself, so yes, there's a bit of apprehension.
Laurence: Personally, I'm happy to cut myself off from the world for a while during the event. Getting back to basics is good for the spirit too!
What is your objective for this Aventura Cup 2025?
Fanny: We're both competitors, so we're going to give it our best shot and hope for a good result. And quite frankly, we'd like to be on the podium. 1st place would be presumptuous, but why not?
Laurence: I think the competition will be tough. What's more, it's a first for us, because on this Rallye there can be 100% women's or mixed crews.
Over the years, you've built up a loyal following of fans as well as sponsors... what factors do you think keep them coming back?
Fanny: Because they love us! [laughs]
Laurence Belloeil and Fanny Marchesi of Irma's Rebelle thank their sponsors "without whom we wouldn't be here": Sexy, Christophe Guyot, AI Domotique, CCD, GEC, NBM and Beenest.
