Photo of Aife Raftery kneeling (C) Michael Chester/Motorsport Ireland
Action shot of car in air by Red Bull Content Pool
The indomitable Aoife Raftery is set to take the wheel of Craig Breen’s legendary 2015 Circuit of Ireland Rally-winning Peugeot 208 T16 R5 at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
This grand spectacle of automotive excellence unfolds on the picturesque grounds of Goodwood House in Sussex, England, from Thursday to Sunday. The Festival of Speed, a glamorous tribute to the 51-year saga of the World Rally Championship, boasts a star-studded lineup featuring current WRC leader Thierry Neuville and reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä. It’s a veritable who’s who of motorsport elite!
Invited drivers will tackle Goodwood’s Forest Rally Stage designed by 1981 World Rally Champion Hannu Mikkola. The stage was first used during the 2005 Festival of Speed and promises to dazzle both drivers and spectators with a blend of historic and contemporary rally cars in action.
Hailing from Galway, Raftery is no stranger to the rally scene, currently competing in the Junior FIA European Rally Championship in a Peugeot 208 Rally4. This invitation marks her debut at the iconic Goodwood event, where she’ll pilot the Peugeot 208 T16 R5 – the very machine her rally hero, the late Craig Breen, drove to a stunning victory in the 2015 Circuit of Ireland. Notably, this will be Raftery’s maiden drive in a four-wheel-drive car at any event.
The Peugeot has been restored to its original livery and will make its first public appearance in these colors in nearly a decade. Arriving at Goodwood on Thursday, Raftery will join the action on the Forest Stage for the remaining three days.
“It is an absolute privilege to drive this famous car, Craig was a friend of mine and nice to be able to do this in his memory, especially at an event as prestigious as the Goodwood Festival of Speed,” said Raftery who is the first, and so far, only female driver to be selected by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. “I have never been here before, so really looking forward to seeing the history of motorsport and rallying unfold over the next few days. A huge thanks to everyone who made this happen, it was very last minute but we are here now and looking forward to it all.”
The Breen family has wholeheartedly blessed this tribute drive. Unveiled in early 2014 by the Peugeot Rally Academy, the Peugeot 208 T16 R5 was the vehicle that propelled Breen to his first overall victory in the FIA European Rally Championship. Breen and co-driver Scott Martin triumphed at the Acropolis Rally in Greece, securing their place among the rally legends.
In 2015, Breen and Martin clinched victories at Rally Liepāja and the SATA Rallye Açores, driving the same car to second overall in the FIA European Rally Championship. The car also boasts a rich Irish rallying history, with Breen debuting it on tarmac at the Circuit of Kerry Rally in 2014.
Raftery will compete in the ‘Contemporary Rally Cars’ class, going head-to-head with Rovanperä’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid and Neuville’s Hyundai i20 Coupe World Rally Car. Adding to the excitement, Max McRae, nephew of 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae, will drive his uncle’s 2001 Ford Focus World Rally Car in the ‘Dawn of Modern Rallying’ class. Irish rally fans can also cheer on Callum Graffin, a frontrunner in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Rally4 class, who will be behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R5.
Aoife Raftery is supported by: Motorsport Ireland | MI Rally Academy | Women in Motorsport Ireland | Des Lyons Plant | Kenny (Peugeot) Galway | O’Neill O’Malley Architects and Project Managers | Loughrea Auto Parts | Craughwell Tyre Centre | Sean Fleming Motors | Quinn Hardware | Kerry Motorsport News
11th July, 2024
