The World Rally Championship (WRC) is hitting the gas on gender equality with a groundbreaking new initiative: a program designed to propel a talented female driver onto the podium of the 2025 Junior WRC. This exciting development, run under the WRC's Beyond Rally platform, tackles the underrepresentation of women in rally racing's top tier.
While female co-drivers like Reeta Hamalainen and Enni Malkonen have secured WRC2 and WRC3 titles in 2022, the last time a woman secured a WRC victory was an incredible 42 years ago, with legend Michele Mouton taking the runner-up spot in 1982.
The WRC Promoter aims to bridge this gap by inviting aspiring female drivers, 27 and under, to join a multi-stage program. The journey begins with selecting the 15 strongest applicants to participate in an intensive training camp at M-Sport Poland's Krakow headquarters. Here, these future rally stars will hone their skills through a combination of practical and theoretical training. This includes tackling gravel and tarmac terrains in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, mastering simulator driving, learning pace notes, and reconnaissance techniques, undergoing PR training, and showcasing their mechanical knowledge.
Following this rigorous camp, a jury of WRC heavyweights will select three finalists. These finalists will then be given the chance to prove their mettle in a real-world competition: the October edition of the WRC Central European Rally, piloting an M-Sport Poland-backed Ford Fiesta Rally3. The ultimate prize awaits the victor – a fully-funded spot in the prestigious 2025 Junior WRC program, complete with testing opportunities.
"We have a rich history of female participation in WRC," acknowledges Peter Thul, WRC Promoter's Senior Director of Sport. He highlights the legendary Michele Mouton and the recent success of female co-drivers but emphasizes the need for more women competing at the pinnacle of the sport.
"This program is a crucial step towards achieving lasting change," Thul continues. "We are focusing on tarmac surfaces initially, offering a smoother transition for drivers with backgrounds in circuit racing or karting."
Burcu Cetinkaya, Chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, applauds the initiative. "This is a fantastic opportunity for young female drivers," she says. "We've seen incredible success from female co-drivers, and we want to see the same level of achievement from female drivers in the coming years."
The WRC's program heralds a new era for women in rally racing. It's a chance to rewrite history, unearth hidden talent, and ignite the passion of future rally champions. Buckle up, because the journey to gravel glory for female drivers is about to begin!
