Driving any rally car is so much fun, she says. But then there’s Rally2-fun.
Watching her eyes light up simply by sitting in the co-drivers’ seat, it’s clear Aoife Raftery is in for one of the best days of her life.
Never before has she driven a rally car so capable. But thanks to the DirtFish Women in Motorsport driver program, she’s about to.
The car in question is Škoda’s Fabia RS Rally2, ably run by 2C Compétition. Its usual driver, Conner Martell, shows Aoife the ropes before it’s time for the Irishwoman to strap herself into the drivers’ seat.
And almost immediately, she couldn’t hide her emotion: “F*****g hell,” she grinned. “It’s so much quicker!”
Aoife Raftery – welcome to Rally2.
In a season she began in Rally4, then debuted and podiumed in Rally3, to top 2025 off with this test makes 2025 a simply unforgettable year for the 25-year-old.
“I’d really love to get out in one and do a rally in a Škoda Rally2,” Aoife smiled.
“The long term-goal of the DirtFish Women in Motorsport program, working with Josie Rimmer, and pushing this initiative forward, we want to get the experience here in America and it’s fantastic to do that next year [2026] too, and hopefully then we can push beyond that and hopefully get to the WRC.”
DirtFish Women in Motorsport is all about breaking down barriers, and yet again Aoife absolutely smashed another one. Watch for yourself.
