24 Heures Motoautiques Rouen - Women's team training hard

by Tammy Wolf on 30 Jan 2012 24 Heures Motoautiques Rouen, organised by the Rouen Yacht club, is being held on the River Seine between 26th and 28th May 2012. With a mere 18 weeks remaining until this year’s event the International Women’s Team is preparing hard.

The goal is to take the top international female inshore pilots and compete in arguably the most grueling boat race in the world. A total of 24 hours of action, driver changes every two hours in extremely rough water. Engines, boats, and drivers endure an incredible beating and just to finish is a testament to the drivers and equipment.

Boats reach the turn buoy at up to 120 mph and in a split second; they accelerate out to the next one. These professional drivers can experience up to 4G´s of centrifugal forces as they maneuver around the course.

The team is composed of champion female race drivers Marie-Line Hericher of France, Bimba Sjoholm of Sweden, Tammy Wolf of Canada, and Mette Bjerknaes of Norway. The two masterminds behind the concept are Olympic Team Rouennais Manager, Albert Hericher and Director of Operations, Carl Kinder. This team will compete in Class II (S2000) with a Moore Tunnel Boat and Mercury Opti-Max motor.

With support from the world-wide racing community and extensive international interest, the world is watching! We have interviewed the drivers and would like to share their incredible story with you.

Marie-Line Henricher – France

This athlete competed successfully in all three categories, over the last 15 years at the 24 Hour Rouen event and in 1997 was a member of an all-French women’s crew that challenged the River Seine.

She has over 50 podium finishes in her racing career and describes this event as the hardest, most demanding, and magical race unlike any other event on this earth.

In 1999, she married during at the 24 Hour race and from that day forward they celebrate their wedding anniversary driving together on a boat.

This year’s racing goal is to win the World Endurance Champion with this all-star team. With over 25 years of driving experience her long-term goals is to retire and concentrate on promoting the sport that she and her husband love.

To prepare for Rouen she plays sports (app. 1 hour 30 per day) allowing her to work on her endurance and prepare for this punishing event.

Marie-Line, jokingly reveled that she can drive over 200 Kilometers per hour but has a fear of a little spider. In her spare time, away from racing, she works, plays a lot of sports, takes care of her animals and spends time with her husband and team manager, Albert.

Bimba Sjoholm - Sweden
With her 2012 winning streak in F4, Bimba has become an international racing sensation.

She started her racing career in 1995 after growing up watching her father and brother drive. She competed in S250, T400, Formula 1000 and F4s with championship results and enjoys the challenge of racing on a course that never stay’s still, the speed, friends and spirit of the sport.

This 2011 European Champion has an extensive racing resume including the first runner-up in the 2008 World Championships and first runner-up at the 2000 European Championships in Milano.

Her 2012 racing goals include winning the F2 World championship and the 24 Hour Rouen race. Her five year goal is
working on podium results in F2 and stepping into F1. She is extremely excited about competing in Rouen because it is one of the world’s most prestigious racing events and has challenged competitors for generations.

Bimba graduated as a glassblower and says the similarities between racing and working with hot glass are striking! It’s all about timing, everything is about deciding when something should be done and then acting.

To prepare for Rouen and the 2012 season, she focuses on keeping her body in shape with stamina and static strength. Although she is focused on the physical demands on her body she also prepares with the boat, working on propeller testing, engines and boat set-up.

Tammy Wolf - Canada
Started racing in 1994 and after 17 years is considered one of the top drivers in her class. This Canadian athlete, competed
in numerous different classes throughout her career including Formula V, SST 90 and Formula 3.

This 2011 Divisional Champion was presented with the Iron Man award. In 2010, the team won the Regional Championship, first runner up at the National Championships, third place finish at the North American Championships and ranked second in the USA in Formula 3. With all this success, Tammy credits the hard work of her team for their achievements.

This year’s goal is to compete and conquer the River Seine in Rouen and improve on last year’s successful season. Eventually
she would like to progress to Formula 2 and Formula 1 racing in the USA and overseas.

Recently APBA’s Historical Society has signed on supporting Tammy’s efforts in Rouen.

When Tammy’s away from racing she enjoys time with friends, family, competitors and being an ambassador to the sport of powerboat racing.

Mette Bjerknaes - Norway
Norway’s newest boat racing sensation has joined the team. Her father, Morten, a former Formula 1 pilot has given this 23 year old priceless guidance and now this young athlete is a force-to-be-reckoned-with.

Mette started racing in 2008 in V-25 and quickly advanced to Formula 4. In 2010, the team invested in a Formula 2 boat and last season placed third at the Norwegian F2 Championships. She is currently the youngest and only female athlete in the World Championship and is qualified with an International Super License. Although she had a rough season in 2011, her goal and commitment to the sport will allow this young athlete numerous future podium finishes, championships and an eventual future and potential championship in Formula 1.

Rouen has always been a dream for Mette ever since her father competed in the Paris six hours in the 80’s. She can’t wait for her turn at an endurance event especially one with such historical racing honor.

In Norway, Mette finds it a challenge to practice for racing season due to the long winters. In the long winter months she stays physically fit by swimming and cross-country Event website