The programme will start this European summer and will provide a springboard for promising female drivers to advance their careers.
The WRC promoter is launching a multi-year initiative this European summer to increase the participation of women at the pinnacle of rallying by providing a platform for up-and-coming female drivers to advance their careers.
The first phase of the project, which will run under the banner of the WRC’s Beyond Rally initiative, will invite applications for a programme that will provide a fully funded annual prize package for the 2025 FIA Junior WRC to women aged 27 or under as of 1 January 2024.
Applications can be submitted here and applicants must submit a two-minute video introduction expressing their motivation for participating in the program and a copy of their driving resume.
The 15 most qualified candidates will be selected to participate in an intensive training camp at the M-Sport Poland headquarters in Krakow, which includes a day of gravel and tarmac testing on a Ford Fiesta Rally3, simulator testing, pace note and reconnaissance skills, public relations training and mechanical knowledge assessment.
A jury of top WRC stakeholders will then select three competitors to progress to stage two, who will compete in the WRC Central European Rally in October this year, in the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 run by Poland.
Following this WRC event, the same jury will decide on the final winner of the 2025 Junior WRC support programme, including testing.
“The WRC has a historic history when it comes to women’s participation.” WRC Promoter Senior Director Sports, Peter Thul. “Michelle Mouton is one of the greatest motorsport legends and over the past three years we have had a female World Champion co-driver in both WRC3 and WRC2.
“But it’s been quite some time since we’ve had a female driver compete consistently at the top level of our sport, and we hope this program will help bridge that gap.
“We have a long-term vision for this project and will continually evaluate the process to ensure that the increase in women’s participation is sustainable.
“We will focus primarily on tarmac in the early stages of selection, including the Central European Rally, to provide an easier transition for entrants with a background in karting and circuit racing.”
Burcu Çetinkaya, Chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission and competitive rally driversaid: “I applaud the opportunities the WRC promoters are providing to young, promising female drivers. We have seen many female co-drivers achieve success in the WRC and we hope to see many more female drivers enjoy the same success in the coming years.
“As Chair of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, I am delighted to share my support for this important mission and look forward to seeing FIA Member Clubs encourage participants and supporters from around the world.”
Launched in 2022, Beyond Rally is the WRC Promoter’s inclusive platform for sustainability initiatives that shape the future of motorsport and have a positive impact on society, focusing on areas such as climate, participation diversity, biodiversity, innovation, responsible business and social impact, and driving the transition to a sustainable future.
Potential applicants who wish to join the program should register their interest by emailing beyondrally@wrc.com for more information. Beyond Rally website.
