DirtFish Women in Motorsport Driver Aoife Raftery scored another ARA National Championship class podium on her 100 Acre Wood debut, but was quick to point out there’s more pace to come.
The Irishwoman’s Standard Motorsports-run Ford Fiesta was the first Rally3 car home in Missouri, second only to Travis Pastrana’s Subaru WRX ARA 25L in L4WD, and sixth overall.
Talking to DirtFish after scoring an ARA podium for the third time in four starts, Raftery said: “I’m happy with the result. There’s more in the tank to push – I know there’s still a lot more there. We can carry that into our next events. I’ve learned so much on my first time here, if we were starting this event again right now, we’re another step forward.”
Reflecting on the lessons learned, she added: “This event is definitely up there with some of the fastest stages I’ve driven and learning what the Rally3 car can do on these roads has been really good. Understanding how you need that commitment to the notes and how you can use the torque and go a gear higher through corners to carry the speed into the next straight is great.
Aoife's presence - as well as her performance - was super important in representing women in motorsport
“This has been a really good battle all weekend, to be fighting with [Travis] Pastrana is good and to be fighting with the Rally2 cars.”
Raftery and co-driver Ditte Kammersgaard were both full of praise for the Standard Motorsports team.
“Coming from the European Rally Championship, Standard Motorsports is really at the top level with the right engineers, the right team and the right squad around you,” said Raftery. “Ryan [Booth, Standard Motorsports owner] and Keaton [Williams, team manager] have done a fantastic job.
“And, of course, I want to talk about working with Josie Rimmer and the DirtFish Women in Motorsport Program. I’m proud to be here – it’s still hard for me to believe I am a driver in the program. As well as competing in rallies like this and showing what we’re capable of, it’s so good to see the girls coming into parc exposé and service to see what can be achieved.
Aoife flew to another great ARA result, but she couldn't have done that without a great team behind her
“Josie has been with me on every event I’ve done in the US and her belief in me and the Program is incredible – she’s such a role model for what we’re trying to achieve in the sport. She’s doing an incredible job.”
DirtFish Women in Motorsport coordinator Rimmer was similarly complimentary about her driver’s performance.
“It’s another amazing result against a phenomenal field. This was not a given rally, there was no point at which anybody felt confident in who would take the top step of podium,” she said.
“To have Aoife come out here for the first time to 100 Acre and lay out this type of performance, competing against this level of drivers and types of vehicles, surpassed all of our hopes.”
