Ramallah:
A group of Palestinian women have sped into their country's record books by forming its first all-female motor racing team.
In doing so, the 'Speed Sisters' have also crashed through a gender barrier in what can be a conservative Muslim society.
The eight women have entered a popular race called the 'Speed Test,' where 'suped-up' cars race around a fixed track, weaving their way around obstacles and spinning circles around others.
Nour Dawood, Racing driver, says, "Before there weren't any girls really, it was only for men and the girls start hearing about it and everybody we start getting excited, they want to compete and stuff like that, they want to try their best and now look at us, now we are eight or nine girls."
Arabic music pounded out of loudspeakers while a group of fans crowded around the track to watch.
The male racing drivers also seem happy with the new team.
Joseph Handal, Racing driver, says, "Girls racing on this speed test with us is an amazing thing, it's a good thing, but I think they need more practice."
While the racing is mostly just good fun, it also marks another important step for Palestinian women who have been claiming more positions of influence in an otherwise male-dominated society.
This year, the first female Palestinian governor was appointed to oversee the West Bank district of Ramallah.
The mayor of the district's main city is a woman, as are four ministers in the Palestinian Cabinet.
'Speed Tests' began in the West Bank in 2005, as violence between Israel and the Palestinians began petering out.
Races take place throughout the territory.
In 2005, only one woman participated, the 'Speed Sisters' coach, 39-year-old Suna Awedia.
Fast forward five years and eight women are now in the race.
As a team, the women get to pool trainers and share a car.
The British Consulate paid for a two-day driving workshop and repaired a banged-up car donated by the Palestinian Union for Race Car Drivers.
The union also waived the 70 US dollars entry fee.
On the track, the 'Speed Sisters' still need to prove their mettle as only one woman has so far reached the top 10 in this year's three rounds.
They've still got two rounds to go however.
Awedia, their captain, says her young drivers are in desperate need of more training, practice as well as better cars and sponsorship.
Still, the girls are certainly not lacking in enthusiasm, or attitude for that matter.
In doing so, the 'Speed Sisters' have also crashed through a gender barrier in what can be a conservative Muslim society.
The eight women have entered a popular race called the 'Speed Test,' where 'suped-up' cars race around a fixed track, weaving their way around obstacles and spinning circles around others.
Nour Dawood, Racing driver, says, "Before there weren't any girls really, it was only for men and the girls start hearing about it and everybody we start getting excited, they want to compete and stuff like that, they want to try their best and now look at us, now we are eight or nine girls."
Arabic music pounded out of loudspeakers while a group of fans crowded around the track to watch.
The male racing drivers also seem happy with the new team.
Joseph Handal, Racing driver, says, "Girls racing on this speed test with us is an amazing thing, it's a good thing, but I think they need more practice."
While the racing is mostly just good fun, it also marks another important step for Palestinian women who have been claiming more positions of influence in an otherwise male-dominated society.
This year, the first female Palestinian governor was appointed to oversee the West Bank district of Ramallah.
The mayor of the district's main city is a woman, as are four ministers in the Palestinian Cabinet.
'Speed Tests' began in the West Bank in 2005, as violence between Israel and the Palestinians began petering out.
Races take place throughout the territory.
In 2005, only one woman participated, the 'Speed Sisters' coach, 39-year-old Suna Awedia.
Fast forward five years and eight women are now in the race.
As a team, the women get to pool trainers and share a car.
The British Consulate paid for a two-day driving workshop and repaired a banged-up car donated by the Palestinian Union for Race Car Drivers.
The union also waived the 70 US dollars entry fee.
On the track, the 'Speed Sisters' still need to prove their mettle as only one woman has so far reached the top 10 in this year's three rounds.
They've still got two rounds to go however.
Awedia, their captain, says her young drivers are in desperate need of more training, practice as well as better cars and sponsorship.
Still, the girls are certainly not lacking in enthusiasm, or attitude for that matter.
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