The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy member has been selected for the FIA World Rally Championship’s Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme as one of 15 select participants.
Launched by WRC Promoter earlier this summer, the initiative aims to increase female participation in rallying at the highest level with applications received from across the globe.
Raftery, a points-scorer in Junior ERC, impressed the selection panel with her application, which included a detailed CV and a promotional video highlighting her attributes.
She will join 14 other candidates representing 12 countries at a training camp hosted by M-Sport Poland from 16 - 18 September. There Raftery will be assessed on her gravel and Tarmac driving, pacenote preparation and interview skills.
At the completion of the training camp, three drivers will be selected to take part on October’s WRC-counting Central European Rally with a fully-supported FIA Junior WRC Championship prize drive on offer to the standout performer on the asphalt-only event.
“This means so much,” said Raftery, who is co-driven by Hannah McKillop in Junior ERC. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am going to give it my best shot. To represent my country on the world stage is an incredible honour. I am delighted to be selected for this amazing programme.”
The 23-year-old continued: “Everyone in the team has put in such a massive effort and I want to thank everyone who has helped me get here. It would not have been possible without the support of family, friends and the work I have done with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy.”
Raftery starts the first UK round of the ERC since 2016 tomorrow (Friday) on the back of a class win on the recent Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, her first outing on asphalt in more than three months.
“It was great preparation for Wales and great to be back home,” said Raftery, who starts JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion eighth in the standings in her Hankook-equipped Peugeot 208 Rally4. “We have put in a lot of hard work over the last few years. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy puts in a massive effort, so it's great to come away with this win.”
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy’s Junior ERC team will be back to full strength for the first time since Rally Islas Canarias in May with the return of Jack Brennan to the line-up. Brennan damaged his Peugeot 208 Rally4 beyond repair on the Spanish round and hasn’t competed in Junior ERC since.
Meanwhile, Kyle McBride, who had planned a full Junior ERC campaign in 2024, makes his long-awaited European debut in Wales. The 21-year-old, who is also backed by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, is registered for ERC4 points.
A total of 10 crews representing the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy are contesting Rali Ceredigion this week, including Rally2 contenders Jon Armstrong/Eoin Treacy and William Creighton/Liam Regan.
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