Aoife Raftery has been appointed as the Women in Motorsport Ambassador for the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally at the official launch of the event on Friday, January 10.
The rally is scheduled to take place on February 1 and 2. Raftery will be competing in the Galway International Rally, returning to her home event after two successful seasons in the FIA Junior European Rally Championship.
The Craughwell native admitted there will be "more nerves than usual" but she is relishing the opportunity to race in front of her home crowd.
"The Galway International Rally is very special to me and I am so glad that I can drive in it. There are more nerves than usual at your home event but it is really cool to be able to drive over the start ramp in Eyre Square," said Raftery.
Raftery believes that people have to support the upcoming generation of young female drivers in Ireland.
"I work with Gemma Hallinan who's an up-and-coming female rally driver who is also in Galway Motor Club. She is 16 years old and already competing in gravel events in Ireland.
"We must be all involved in promoting and encouraging more females to get involved," she added.
Raftery is the current Galway Motor Club champion driver and was honoured as the inaugural winner of the Rosemary Smith Memorial Trophy in December 2024.
