What will Santa Claus bring Rachele Somaschini?
Everybody knows, rule number one for the big fella in red is about being good for a year. Or a season.
Somaschini, 30, nailed that one through 2024. A maiden Tour European Rally (TER) title and a fourth Italian Ladies’ Rally Championship are her standout results.
In less than 10 years Rachele, who first sampled rallying in 2015 after making her motorsport debut in circuit racing and on hill climbs, has gathered considerable experience at national and international level, including two seasons in the European Rally Championship and a couple of starts on the Monte Carlo Rally.
Make no mistake, when it comes to determination, she is second to none. Never flinching from a challenge, Rachele’s campaigned a Gigi Galli-prepared 600bhp Kia Rio in the Italian ICE Challenge, finishing runner-up.
Somaschini won the TER series outright in 2024
She’s a regular at the Tandalò gravel hill climb in Sardinia and recently tried her hand on a regularity. Along with her partner Mattia Pedraglio, making his co-driving debut at the 2024 EcoDolomites GT, the pair managed to win one section.
Rachele’s greatest challenge, however, is arguably the fight against cystic fibrosis.
Being born with this genetic disease means she soon had to get used to a routine of treatments which would dictate the pace of her everyday life, and even more so during competitions.
“Becoming a driver was my childhood dream,” she told DirtFish. “To do it in rallies was a challenge which was considered impossible for me, due to my illness.
“Today, having managed to achieve results in this sport is a source of great pride for me because, as my dearest friend Angelica – who was taken away by cystic fibrosis at the age of 25 – used to say: ‘You are all the limits you overcome.’
Somaschini is raising awareness and funds in the fight against cystic fibrosis
“For her and for those who cannot fight, I founded the solidarity project Correre Per Un Respiro (Racing for breath) so that my commitment and my visibility in competitions support a greater goal.”
Today, while the ongoing scientific research has gradually improved both the therapies and the conditions of many patients, there is still a lot to be done.
And Rachele is playing her part. After launching the project in 2016, she aims to raise both awareness of the condition and funds to drive further research. Just as she’s succeeded as a driver, so she did with #CorrerePerUnRespiro. Including royalties from her award-winning biography of the same title, she’s raised more than €450,000 (US$472,000).
“When I understood that hiding the illness was useless,” she said, “I chose to do something concrete, for myself and for the people affected by this illness. The #CorrerePerunRespiro project was created to raise awareness and funds for the research on cystic fibrosis – an initiative combining my passion for engines with what I believe to be my ultimate goal: to find a cure for cystic fibrosis and to give support and hope to all the families who are experiencing what my family and I have been through in dealing with it.
“People have understood this message and come to visit us on event to be able to leave a donation. At the Monza Rally Show we set a record for fundraising with more then €8,100 in three days to be donated to research projects. This is the greatest satisfaction.”
Monza outing set a new fundraising record
It seems Rachele Somaschini has been more than good this year.
And Christmas has come early… next season she will tackle six rounds of the World Rally Championship, contesting the WRC2 title.
“I still can’t believe this is true,” she said. “Such has been the emotion and effort make this project a reality… It was my dream to become a rally driver, but I felt a strong urge to test myself in a top series one day.
“Despite the struggles with my health problems, that day has finally arrived and my heart is full of gratitude for all the partners who trusted me and allowed me to realize this great dream.”
Two Monte starts and plenty of European experience have given Rachele an insight into what it takes to compete near the top. But now she’s getting even closer to the sport’s summit.
“I know that taking part in the highest level of competition will require even greater preparation, dedication and commitment but it is my intention to give the maximum to do well, knowing I will face several very strong opponents.
“This experience will also be a great opportunity to bring the message of #CorrerePerUnRespiro to an international stage with great relevance, in a championship which has audiences and visibility in the five continents. I have to thank everybody who has made this possible.”
