Galway’s Aoife Raftery is among a record-breaking 21-car entry in the opening round of the Hankook Tyres FIA Junior European Rally Championship, which gets underway in Spain later today.
Raftery, entering her third season in the Junior ERC – a breeding ground for future rally stars – will drive for the Hungarian Rally Team HRT Racing for 2025, where she will pilot a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
The 42nd Rally Sierra Morena – Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad, hosted in the picturesque city of Córdoba, marks the beginning of her 2025 season.
The Junior ERC championship, designed for drivers under 26, is a crucial stepping stone from national rallying to the international stage.
This year’s competition features 13 rookies alongside experienced contenders, all vying for victory in the junior class.
The ultimate prize for the championship winner is a coveted Junior WRC drive in 2026.
Raftery, seeded third amongst the junior competitors, said, “The target, as always, is to be on the podium and have good results.”
“HRT won Junior ERC in 2023, and I will use their experience and advice to have good results in each rally, improve our pace and become a better driver with a good team around me.”
The rally features 13 challenging tarmac stages, covering a competitive distance of 209.96 kilometres.
The action begins with a spectator-friendly super special stage around 7 pm Irish time. Fans can follow every stage live on Rally.tv.
