The progress is impossible to ignore. For this Irish driver’s first full season in this category, they’re making waves.
For Jon Armstrong, see Aoife Raftery.
Armstrong may be a further couple of rungs up the ladder for now, but Raftery has made as big an impression in Rally3 as her compatriot has in Rally1.
Last weekend, as preparation for this week’s Olympus Rally presented by DirtFish, Raftery placed a standout seventh overall in the British Rally Championship, and first non-Rally2 car, at the Wales’ Severn Valley Stages.
Even while driving his own rally in Croatia, that performance didn’t go unnoticed by Armstrong.
Raftery won her class at Severn Valley Stages, ideal preparation for her biggest rally yet this week
“I’ve known Aoife and her pace for a while,” the M-Sport pilot said of the DirtFish Women in Motorsport Driver.
“I’ve been able to work with her on a test before so I know she’s a very capable driver and she’s doing some fantastic things now, having moved up to the Rally3 category.
“It’s really cool to see her also rallying in the American championship because that’s so unique and I think it’s a great place to develop her skills.
“We’ll just keep an eye on her and just wish her good luck. Hopefully she can keep improving but keep enjoying it as well.”
Raftery will be joined by Hannah McKillop as she pushes for a big result this weekend in an Element Rallysport Ford Fiesta Rally3.
Raftery was runner-up in Limited 4WD behind outright rally winner Travis Pastrana at the most recent ARA National round, 100 Acre Wood
“Olympus Rally is the next round of the ARA and is the biggest event of the ARA season and also the biggest event that I’ve ever competed in with it being over 330 stage kilometers. I’ve never got the chance to do a rally as big as that, it’s like a proper WRC event in terms of stage kilometers and of course the stages over there are incredible too,” she smiled.
“With the DirtFish Women in Motorsport Driver Program we’re really beginning to show strong presence on the American stages, and I’m very proud to be part of that momentum.
“Our goal is to keep developing this Program and take it all the way to the top.”
