Lyssia Baudet, Suvi Jyrkiäinen and Claire Schönborn have been chosen as the three finalists of WRC Promoter’s Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Program, and will each compete in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 at next month’s Central European Rally.
Beyond Rally is a brand-new initiative aiming to accelerate female participation in the World Rally Championship.
After an initial application process, 15 drivers were selected to attend a three-day training camp at M-Sport Poland’s base in Kraków where they faced two days of driving (one on asphalt and one on gravel) as well as various other assessments including pacenotes, fitness, technical know-how and media skills.
Belgium’s Baudet, Finland’s Jyrkiäinen and Germany’s Schönborn were the most impressive candidates and will now compete at CER, where one of them will then be awarded a full season in the 2025 Junior WRC.
From L-R: Suvi Jyrkiäinen, Claire Schönborn, Lyssia Baudet
“For us, it was at the end, very difficult to make the choice. We hope of course that it was the right one, we will see on the next stage of the process at the Central European Rally,” said Peter Thul, WRC Promoter senior director of sport.
“Each one of the finalists has been exceptional. We know their CV, but some of the applicants had no experience to, say, drive on gravel at all, and they have really surprised us here. They all delivered a fantastic performance, I must say the 15 here were the correct drivers to be selected.
“Now though, a WRC event is waiting and it’s a very tough Tarmac rally with changing weather conditions through Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. But this training camp here in Poland offered a variety of road surfaces, so I think they will be well prepared.”
About the finalists
Kicking her career off on the circuits, Lyssia Baudet transitioned to rallying in 2022 and secured fourth place in the Clio Trophy Belgium in her debut season. The Opel Electric Rally Cup beckoned in 2024 for the 21-year-old Belgian.
“It’s amazing, I feel like I am in a dream but I know that it is only the start of the adventure and I have a lot of work to do, but I am ready for this and I am very thankful,” said Baudet. “I would like to congratulate the other candidates, the level was very high. It’s been an amazing opportunity for us all.”
Hailing from Finland, 24-year-old Suvi Jyrkiäinen was another to begin her driving career on the circuits, swiftly moving into the Finnish Rally Championship and spending two seasons behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta, tackling the Finnish Ladies Cup.
“Well, I’m speechless,” Jyrkiäinen said. “I was happy with my driving throughout the days but I wasn’t sure if the other things were enough, but I am really happy. It’s really incredible, I cannot imagine myself there in the WRC but maybe you know it will sink in in a few days.”
Claire Schönborn’s career began in the ADAC Slalom Youngster Cup where she became vice-champion, before opting to focus on hillclimbs in Germany for several years. From there, the 25-year-old headed for the Opel Electric Rally Cup.
“Of course, I am so happy, I didn’t think that I was picked up, I’m speechless, it feels like a dream,” Schönborn said. “There are so many girls with so much experience in rally, so the level was really high. I didn’t think about being the chosen one of the three girls so, yes, I am so happy.”
