Inclusion and participation will take centre stage at an international conference organised as part of the 2026 WRC ueno Rally of Paraguay, which will take place on 25 August at the Autonomous University of Encarnación (UNAE) under the slogan “Motorsport for All”.
The initiative is supported by the Office of the First Lady, the Ministry for Women, the Ministry for Children and Adolescents and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MITIC), and will feature the participation of leading representatives from the International Automobile Federation (FIA), who will share experiences and best practices regarding inclusion in motorsport.
As explained by Junior Pujol, Events and ESG Coordinator for the Paraguay Rally, the main objective is to leave a legacy that goes beyond the sporting competition and helps to strengthen the participation of groups that have historically been under-represented in motor sport. “We aim to embed inclusion within motorsport, bringing in more women, indigenous women, girls and teenagers into a space that has traditionally been seen as the preserve of men,” he said, adding that the Deputy Minister for Communication, Alejandra Duarte Albospino, will be one of the panellists at the event.
The conference is expected to bring together more than 200 participants and will focus on the empowerment of women, promoting new opportunities within a sector that offers a wide range of possibilities for professional development.
A sport that opens doors beyond driving
Pujol emphasised that modern motor racing goes far beyond drivers and co-drivers, creating opportunities in areas such as event organisation, communications, marketing, safety, logistics, technology and sports management.
In this context, she highlighted that the Paraguay Rally is already a concrete example of inclusion, with women holding strategic positions within the organisational structure.
“This year we have Andrea Lafarja as a driver in the event. Furthermore, our Head of Events is a woman and the third person in the chain of command is the architect Lourdes Gómez. Marketing coordination is also led by Nara Maidana. These are examples showing that motorsport is for women too,” he stated.
Bringing the world of motorsport closer to children and young people
As part of the activities linked to the Paraguay Rally, the organisation is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) to facilitate students’ participation in educational experiences within the Service Park.
The initiative will allow boys and girls to gain a first-hand understanding of how a world-class competition works, observing aspects related to safety, the work of the teams and the various professions that form part of the motorsport ecosystem.
“We want them to see how a wheel is changed, how safety protocols work and all the opportunities this world has to offer,” explained Pujol.
These initiatives will be complemented by road safety workshops aimed at the community, reinforcing the event’s commitment to civic education and road safety.
A legacy for the future
The coordinator noted that the conference aims to lay the foundations for greater female and diverse participation in Paraguayan and regional motorsport over the coming years.
“If, in ten years’ time, we see more women leading teams, organising competitions, working in specialist media or competing in the WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay, this conference will have fulfilled an important part of its mission,” he said.
In addition to the World Rally Championship round, the WRC ueno Rally del Paraguay will offer activities open to the public and aimed at the whole family. These include a parade of historic rally cars scheduled for 26 August, with the vehicles subsequently becoming part of the future Rally Museum.
“We want everyone to have the opportunity to experience the world of motorsport from the inside. The Paraguay Rally will be a great family celebration,” concluded Pujol.
The ‘Motorsport for All’ conference is thus establishing itself as a platform dedicated to promoting equal opportunities, inspiring new generations and demonstrating that the future of motorsport can be built on increasingly broad, diverse and inclusive participation.
