A determined athlete who played handball competitively for ten years, Sarah Rumeau says she fell in love with cars at a very young age. However, it took some time before she finally got behind the wheel of a rally car. The wait was worth it, though, as Sarah has been delivering excellent performances not only in the French Rally Championship. Last weekend, she crowned her achievements by securing the French Gravel Rally Championship title.
The 31-year-old driver from the French Pyrenees finally made her debut behind the wheel of a rally car in 2021. Since then, she has been delivering impressive performances, not only on home soil in France. Consistently scoring points alongside her co-driver, Julie Amblard, Sarah has already won three French national women's titles and finished fifth in the overall standings of the French championship in 2024.
This year, she took part in the French rallies at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 run by the 2C Compétition team. And it has been a truly successful season. Competing against a strong field, she secured the French Gravel Rally Championship title.
How did you get into racing in the first place?
I am very ambitious, and whenever I come across a challenge that I can win, I really enjoy it. I played handball competitively for about ten years, and I have always enjoyed adrenaline-fuelled sports such as downhill skiing and mountain biking. But my dream was to become a racing driver. Although motorsport was not particularly close to home for us, we have always loved cars, and I have been interested in engines from a very young age. As soon as I could reach the pedals, I started trying to drive our cars.
When did that dream begin to come true?
In 2017, I saw a rally in person for the first time in my life. Quite by chance, I then got the opportunity to take part in a young talent selection programme on Réunion Island, where I was living at the time. I had absolutely no racing experience, yet I was selected. From that moment on, my goal was clear: to become a professional racing driver. I had to work very hard towards that goal and create opportunities for myself. Today, I am very proud of where I am and how far I've come from my hometown—a small town in the Pyrenees—without any experience or knowledge of the world of motorsports.
What were your early days behind the wheel like?
I was a complete beginner and had to learn practically everything at once: how to handle the car, how to work with pace notes, how to work with my co-driver, and how to tackle the stages themselves. Before Julie and I started competing in rallies, I spent the 2020 season racing on circuits in the Caterham Academy series. That was where I learned the basics of driving, improved my precision and achieved my first successes. But rallying had always been the goal. Our first two rallies were really tough. However, I saw that as part of the learning process. I worked hard, improved, learned to improvise, but also came to understand the importance of thorough preparation.
In 2021, you won your first French women's title. What was that like?
That was my goal from the beginning of the season, and I made that clear to Julie when we were putting our crew together. If I remember correctly, fourteen female drivers took part in the first rally of the season, so the competition was strong. We started the season in a different car, but halfway through the season I switched to the same model as our rivals were drivin. We had a very strong end to the season and won the title. For the people around me, it was clear proof of my determination to build a career in rallying.
You competed in a two-wheel-drive car for three seasons before moving up to a four-wheel-drive Rally2 category car. What was that change like?
It was a huge change, particularly in terms of performance, but also in the way the entire car behaved. I immediately felt that things were different. The car demanded greater precision. Its efficiency and balance are excellent. I really enjoyed driving it. Last year, thanks to a car in this category, we also got the opportunity to compete in rounds of the World Rally Championship, which was another valuable experience. The special stages there are longer and more demanding, and that taught us to work a little differently and be more efficient. At the same time, Julie and I realised just how important experience is at this level. So, we know where we may need to improve in the future.
This season, you are competing in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. What do you like about the car?
From the very first test, I felt very comfortable in the car. After just a few kilometres behind the wheel, I had found my feet in it. I feel well connected to the car, which allows me, among other things, to keep improving. And it also allows me to enjoy driving it immensely. The car is predictable and stable, has plenty of torque and is competitive on all surfaces. Congratulations to Škoda on developing such a versatile car. And it looks great, too!
You have had a successful season this year. What are your plans for the future?
This year has gone really well. We have been fast on all surfaces and have been particularly successful on gravel. I have really enjoyed driving the car. We will have to wait and see what 2027 brings. In the longer term, our goal is to return to international championships, but we need strong backing to make that happen, because competing at that level is financially demanding. We will see. But it would be great to have one or more all-female crews competing in the Rally2 category in the World Rally Championship.
What do you see as the advantage of an all-female crew, such as the one you form with your co-driver, Julie?
We clicked from our very first rally. Julie and I complement each other well. We have different personalities and different temperaments, which we believe is one of our strengths. It allows us to move forward both individually and as a crew. We both dream of making this our full-time career. We leave nothing to chance. Whenever we work on something together, there is a great deal of discipline and structure involved. Rallying is a team sport, and I am glad that I can rely on Julie as my co-driver.
What advice would you give to young girls who dream of a career in motorsport?
If you have a dream, go for it. Nobody is going to open those doors for you. You have to create your own opportunities. It is important to believe in your dreams, make your own decisions and follow your own path. Remember that there are no limits. Whatever sport you love, pursue it. Do not be afraid to give it a try, even if the path seems difficult or you do not know where to start.
