Today marks the first of three potentially career-defining days for 15 of the world’s most promising female rally drivers.
Situated at M-Sport Poland’s base in Kraków, the chosen finalists of WRC Promoter’s Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Program are competing head-to-head for three arrive-and-drive deals in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 at next month’s Central European Rally.
From there, one will be selected to contest a full Junior WRC campaign in 2025.
So what do we know about this week’s training camp? Who’s taking part, and what must the successful candidate ultimately show the judges?
Here’s your ultimate guide to this week’s proceedings:
Who are the drivers?
As announced in August, 15 drivers from 13 different countries have made it through the application process to attend the training camp.
They are:
Lyssia Baudet (Belgium)
Emma Chalvin (France)
Ann Felke (Germany)
Joanna Hassoun (Lebanon)
Mako Hirakawa (Japan)
Hannah Jakobsson (Sweden)
Suvi Jyrkiäinen (Finland)
Luz Marina (Spain)
Nuria Pons (Spain)
Aoife Raftery (Ireland)
Claire Schönborn (Germany)
Madelyn Tabor (USA)
Alexandra Teslovan (Romania)
Hanna Lisette Aabna (Estonia)
Dorka Zagyva (Hungary)
What will they be assessed on?
Monday, the first day of the training camp, focuses on aptitude outside the car.
There’ll be a fitness evaluation as well as media training and a module on pacenote theory, coached by 2022 WRC2 champion Reeta Hämäläinen and Tanja Geilhausen.
Finalists have also been sent a complete manual on the Fiesta Rally3 prior to arriving in Poland, as they will face a technical assessment before driving the car. This will help test preparation and professionalism.
Tuesday is about driving (as is Wednesday).
Action will begin on a karting track with two introductory laps and then three fliers, with 2023 Junior WRC champion William Creighton and Eyvind Brynildsen instructing.
Near the track is a section of road used in the Polish championship where the drivers will go out for a recce and create a set of pacenotes. On the final day, they hit the loose to drive on gravel before the judging panel will deliberate and pick the three that will head to CER.
What are the judges looking for?
The panel consists of Pernilla Solberg (WRC Commission president), Burcu Çetinkaya (Chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission), Isolde Holderied (former rally driver), Maciej Woda (M-Sport Poland) and Peter Thul (WRC Promoter).
They aren’t looking necessarily for the fastest driver, but in Thul’s words the one with the “most promising talent”. However, he also stressed that speed cannot be taught so the drivers must clearly show some potential in their driving as well, but it’s about an overall package and who shows an ability to develop.
Thul also confirmed that Beyond Rally is a multi-year program, so it is not a one-off for this year. But make no mistake: each and every one of the 15 finalists will be giving it their all to make the start line of CER in October.
