A female Italian racing driver is taking part in the Dakar rally in Saudi Arabia thanks to sponsorship from the adult content platform OnlyFans.

Rebecca Busi, 26, from Bologna, teamed up with OnlyFans to participate in the Dakar rally in January 2023.

She told local media she took part in the 2022 event and wanted to race again, but needed to find a sponsor.

Busi explained: “As soon as I finished the 2022 edition, I thought I would like to come back.

“Until six months ago I wasn’t sure I could do it because I was struggling to find someone who believed in me. It was also hard for morale.”

That’s when the London-based adult content platform OnlyFans reached out and offered to sponsor her.

She teamed up with another female driver, Giulia Maroni, and the pair formed an all-female team to take part in the race.

Busi, who used OnlyFans to keep subscribers informed about the race, told local media: “I’m still amazed at the strength with which they believed in me, I wouldn’t be here without them.”

She added: “In Saudi Arabia even the platform is banned. I believe that in our part of the world we enjoy a lot of freedom and everyone can use social media as they want but I transmit my job, not my face.

“We have opened a free channel dedicated exclusively to the world of rallying and engines.”

The 2023 Dakar Rally is taking place in Saudi Arabia.

It began on Saturday, 31st December and is set to finish on Sunday, 15th January.