The World Rally Championship has chosen three female drivers from its inaugural Women’s Development Programme to receive fully funded entry to the Central Europe Rally.
Lyssia Baudet (Belgium, 21), Claire Schonborn (Germany, 25) and Suvi Jyrkiainen (Finland, 24) were chosen from a bunch of 15 finalists who were chosen from a wide selection of applications from around the globe.
Now, from 17-20 October, they may drive a Ford Fiesta Rally3 built by M-Sport within the penultimate round of the WRC season.
The trio was chosen by a committee consisting of Peter Thul (sporting director of WRC Promoter), Burcu Cetinkaya (rally driver and FIA Chairwoman for Women in Motorsport), Pernilla Solberg (chairwoman of the FIA WRC Commission, former rally driver), Maciej Woda (managing director of M-Sport Polska) and Isolde Holderied (FIA World Rally Champion in 1994-95).
The decision was made after 15 candidates took part in an intensive three-day training in Poland, during which they were assessed by a panel of experts.
Drivers were assessed on their driving skills on asphalt and gravel, how they handled media interviews, their ability to take driving notes, their physical fitness and their knowledge of mechanics.
Following next month's Central Europe Rally, stewards will award one in every of three drivers a full season in next 12 months's Junior World Rally Championship.
Schonborn, who made her debut within the Opel Electric Rally Cup this 12 months, said: “I didn’t think anyone would notice me, I’m speechless, it’s like a dream.
Claire Schonborn (left), Lyssia Baudet (middle) and Suvi Jyrkiainen (right)
Photo: WRC
“There are so many girls with so much experience in rallying, so the level was really high. I didn't think I would be chosen out of three girls, so yes, I'm so happy.”
Former racing driver and current rally driver, Baudet added: “It’s amazing, I feel like I’m dreaming but I know it’s just the beginning of the adventure and I have a lot of work to do but I’m ready for it and I’m very grateful.”
“I would like to congratulate the other candidates, the level was very high. It was an amazing opportunity for all of us.”
“I was happy with the ride all day, but I wasn't sure if the other things would be enough, but I'm really happy. It's really amazing, I can't imagine myself in the WRC, but maybe you know that will come to me in a few days,” said Jyrkiainen, who finished second within the 2023 Finish Rally Championship Ladies Cup.
“For us, in the end, it was very difficult to make a choice. We of course hope that it was the right choice, we will see in the next stage of the process at the Central European Rally,” said Thul.
“Each of the finalists was unique. We know their CVs, a number of the girls don’t have any experience, they don’t ride gravel in any respect and so they really surprised us.
“Everyone performed fantastically, I even have to say that each single one in every of them was the correct alternative out of the 15 chosen.
“But now we’ve a WRC event and it’s a really difficult asphalt rally with changeable weather conditions in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. But this training camp here in Poland offers quite a lot of road surfaces, so I feel they will probably be well prepared.
“They will conduct tests before the event, we will also build a professional structure together with M-Sport Polska, and then we hope that these three competitors will become true ambassadors for women in motorsport.”
