Rachele Somaschini

Rachele at the 2018 Monza Rally Show

Rachele Somaschini is a race and rally driver from Italy, who drives a Mini. She is the first driver with cystic fibrosis to take part in a World Championship rally.

She started competing in 2012, when she was 18, using a historic Alfa Romeo that belonged to her father. Her first events were hillclimbs.

In 2015, she began racing a BMW Mini, competing in the Italian Hillclimb championship.

In 2016 she took on the Mini Cooper Challenge on the track, and various Italian rallies. She won her class in the Mini Challenge and in the Italian hillclimb series. In rallies, she scored five class wins in Rally Show-type events, with a best overall finish of 22nd (out of 46), at the Motors Rally Show Pavia.

She teamed up with experienced co-driver Alessandra Benedetti in 2017, for more rally shows. Together they tried out a Peugeot 207 S2000 car as well as the Mini.

In 2018, she tackled the Sanremo Rally in a Peugeot 208 R2, finishing 30th. She also drove the Mini and a Citroen DS3 during the year, winning her class at the Adriatico and Due Valli events in the Citroen. It was in this car that she she scored a ninth place in the Tandalo-Vetture Rally, a single-stage hill-based event on gravel. Her first run in an R5 car was at the Monza Rally Show in December, where she was 70th overall in a Peugeot 208 T16..

Her first WRC rally was the 2019 Monte. She was classified 63rd overall in a Citroen DS3 R3T after a solid run, although only the top 56 finishers were permitted to take on the final stages.

She was invited to take part in the W Series all-female Formula 3 championship in 2019, but declined due to worries over her health and a desire to carry on with rallies, which she did throughout the year. She mostly used the DS3 and it was in this car that she had her best result: fifteenth in the Targa Florio Rally. She ended the year the ACI Italian ladies' champion and fourth in the Italian 2WD championship.

Late in the season, she tried R5 power for the first time, driving a Skoda Fabia at the Monza Rallyshow. She was 47th, against some highly experienced WRC drivers.

The 2020 season was shortened due to coronavirus, but Rachele remained busy despite her vulnerability. She entered the Monte again in her DS3 and was 61st overall. At the end of the season she took part in a second WRC rally, the Rally Monza, finishing in 42nd place out of 71 finishers. Her car this time was a Citroen C3 R5.

Most of her rallying was in Italy, but she also travelled to Latvia for the Rally Liepaja, an ERC round. She was meant to compete in the Rally of Hungary in a Renault Clio, but had to pull out due to an arm injury. Her other ERC outing was the Rally di Roma Capitale, in which she was 58th, driving a Rally4-spec Peugeot 208, the same car she used in Latvia. 

A packed schedule in 2021 led to an Italian Ladies' championship in the Citroen, with many credible performances along the way. She began the year with a 14th in the Rallye Terra Valle del Tevere, the first of seven top-twenty finishes in stage rallies for her. Her best finish of these was ninth in the Rally of Sardinia and she followed it with eleventh in the San Marino Rally. She did two ERC events, the Rally di Roma Capitale and her first run in the Azores Rally, in which she was 22nd after having to rejoin under SuperRally rules. Her second WRC Rally Monza ended with a 32nd place finish (out of 67).

Her best result of the year was in the Tandalo Vetturi single-stage rally, in which she had previously run well. She was second overall.

2022 was another busy year, with ERC, Italian and TER Italian championship rallies in the Citroen. After a bad ERC start, losing a wheel in the Serras de Fafe Rally in Portugal, but she was then 22nd in the Azores (from 42 finishers) and 16th in the Canary Islands, from 79. This was followed by some domestic success: tenth in the Rally Valle d'Aosta and twelfth in the San Marino Rally. Her best rally result was a fifth place in the Rally Terra Sarda, although she was also fourth in the Memorial Nicolo Imperio-Vetture event, a rallysprint.

Health problems prevented Rachele from entering all the rallies she wanted to in 2023, but it was still a busy season for her. She was the leading female driver in the TER championship, with a best finish of eleventh overall, driving the DS3 in the Rally Terra Valle de Tevere. She also secured an Italian ladies' title and was ninth in the Promotional class of the Italian rally championship with four top-twenty finishes, including 15th place in the Sanremo Rally. Another ERC season led to finishes in the Rally di Roma Capitale, Rally of Scandinavia, Poland, Canary Islands and Portuguese rallies. The best of these were Roma and Scandinavia (held in Sweden), where she was 24th overall both times. 

More European action in the C3 followed in 2024. She held her TER ladies' crown and was also the winner of the TER overall championship. This was largely down to a championship class win in the Fthiotidos Rally in Greece, where she was third overall. She was also sixth in the TER class of the Sierra Morena International Rally in Spain and seventh in the Rally Terra Sarda, where she was eleventh overall. 

In 2025, she secured backing to compete in the Rally2 section of the WRC, driving a C3. Her programme included five WRC rallies, starting with the Monte and Sweden, the the Canary Islands, Portugal and Sardinia. The best of these for her was Sardinia: she was 31st overall and 16th in the Rally2 class. 

Later in the year, she entered the C3 into the Rally Roma Capitale, finishing 38th, but by now, she was preparing for her next big adventure. She was signed up for an all-female team for the Dakar, driving in the Truck class.

Rachele uses her rallying as a way of raising awareness for cystic fibrosis, fronting a campaign called “Correre Per Un Respiro” (Racing For A Breath). She maintains her health and fitness through regular sessions with a specialist personal trainer, as well as the home- and hospital-based therapies used by many people with CF. In 2021, she began treatment with a new drug regime which may allow her to live more normally.

(Image from https://motorsport.motorionline.com)

Female Rally Drivers After 1950: Portugal

Joana Barbosa and Sofia Mouta in 2018

Carla Costa now has her own profile.

Ligia Albuquerque – Portuguese driver who started off in the navigator’s seat, in 1989. She co-drove mainly for Vasco Campos, before taking the wheel herself in 1998. For two seasons, she rallied in the SEAT Ibiza Cup in Portugal, with a best overall finish of 18th, in the 1998 Casinos do Algarve Rally. After that, she did some cross-country rallying and made occasional appearances as the course car driver in Portuguese rallies, before returning to stage-based competition in 2015. She took part in the Portuguese Ladies’ Trophy, both as a driver, and as a co-driver to Isabel Ramos. Driving a Citroen DS3, she was second in the Praia da Vitória Rallysprint. In both 2022 and 2023, she did one rally in Portugal in a historic Mini Cooper.

Joana Barbosa - Portuguese Ladies’ rally champion in 2017 and 2018. Both years, her main car was a Ford Fiesta R3T. 2017 was the more successful year overall for her, with four top-twenty finishes. She also entered one WRC rally, the Rally of Portugal, but retired before the third day. Previously, she drove a Fiat 500 Abarth, in which she managed three top-ten finishes in 2016. The best of these was ninth in the Rally Vila Nova de Cerveira, from 20 finishers. In 2019, she earned her first top-ten finish, an eighth place in the Vieira do Minho Rally. Shortly afterwards, she changed back to driving the Fiat and was not quite as fast. Her normal co-driver is Sofia Mouta.   

Margarida Barbosa – has competed on and off in Portuguese rallies since 2011. Her first car was a Citroen C2, and it was in this car that she was ninth in her first major rally, the CAM Rally Festival. In 2012, she used three small cars: the Citroen, a Ford Fiesta and a Renault Clio. Her best result came in the Citroen – fourth in the Rali Santo Thyrso. The Clio was also a good car for her, as she achieved three more top-ten finishes in it. Between 2012 and 2014, she did not rally much at all, although she did manage a twelfth place and class win in the Bombeiros Rallysprint in 2014, driving a Citroen DS3. At some point, she did some sportscar racing. In 2015, she contested the Citroen DS3 Challenge. She was third in the championship, with one class win, in the Viana do Castelo Rally. Her best overall finish was thirteenth, in the Sernancelhe Aguar da Beira Rally.

Vera Cardoso - Portuguese driver who usually rallies a Fiat Uno. She has used this car in events in her home championship since 2016. Her best result in it so far has been a 21st place in the 2017 Pedras Salgadas Regional Rally, although she did manage a class X1-8 podium in the 2016 Uniao Rally. She rallies on asphalt exclusively, like many other Spanish and Portuguese drivers. Her most frequent co-driver is Ana Rita Faria, although Helena Maia sat with her more in 2019. The Fiat was swapped for a Citroen Saxo in 2021. Her best finish in it was a twelfth place in the Rally de Resende - Douro Verde. She came out again for a couple of rallies in the Saxo in 2023, and more in 2024, plus the Aves Especial Sprint in 2025.

Mariana Carvalho – competed extensively in Portugal between 2009 and 2013, before reappearing in the Portuguese Ladies’ Trophy in 2015. Her first rally car was a Suzuki Ignis, and she was third in the Portuguese Junior championship in 2009. Her best overall was a fifth place, in the Rali Vila Nova de Famalicão. After that, she switched to a Peugeot 206, a car she still uses today. In 2010, she scored her first top –twenty finish, a 17th place in the Rali Cidade de Gondomar, and by 2013, she was a regular top-twenty driver, with a best finish of fifteenth, in the Rali Cidade de Guimarães. After a break, she returned to the stages in 2015. She won the Ladies’ Trophy in the Rali Vidreiro, in which she was tenth overall, and was second in that year's Ladies' championship. She was also twelfth in the Rallye Serras de Fafe. In 2016, back in mixed competition, she was 49th in the Rali BVF de Vila Nova de Famalicao, in a Citroen C2. She did some more rallies in the C2 in 2017, picking up a 20th place in the Castelo Branco Rally. Her only event in 2018 was the Famalicao Rally, driving the C2. She was 38th.

(Ana) Sofia Correia - Portuguese driver who appears to have started rallying in 2008, after some years of karting. Her first car was a Skoda Fabia. In 2009, this was upgraded to a Peugeot 206 GTI, and in 2010, she continued to use this car. Her activities are centred around the Madeira Rally Championship, including the Rali Vinho de Madeira, a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. As a Madeira resident, this is her home rally. Her co-driver was Susana Sousa. She did not compete in 2011, but returned in 2012, driving a Citroen C2. She rallied in the Madeira championship, and finished in the top ten in five out of her seven events. In 2013, she was in the top ten for four of her five Madeiran rallies, with a best finish of sixth in the Rali Municipio do Funchal. She was sixth in the Madeira championship. In 2016, she rallied a Renault Clio, and was tenth overall in the Circuito Municipio de Calheta.

Carolina Costa - competed in the Madeira Rally Championship in 2009, assisted by navigator Rubina Goncalves. Their car was a Group N Renault Clio. During this year, she took part in the Vinho Rali Madeira, a round of the IRC, but retired with mechanical problems. She does not appear to have competed in 2010 or 2011, but was back on the stages in 2012, driving a VW Golf. She appears to have entered the Funchal Rally, but the result cannot be found.

Joana Fernandes - began rallying in 2006, in the Toyota Yaris Cup of Portugal. She soon became one of the leading lady drivers, and continued to a Coupe des Dames in 2007, navigated by Sofia Pereira. In 2008, she switched to a Citroen Saxo, which she has used ever since. Her rally activities are mainly centred around her home island of Madeira, and she has taken part in the Rali Vinho Madeira on four occasions, and had a best finish of 37th in 2007.

Marlene Ferreira – Portuguese driver based in the Azores. In 2015, she began rallying in the Azores Ladies’ Championship, in a Renault Clio. This was exchanged for a Megane after her first rally, the all-female Praia da Vitória Rallysprint. Her best finish was third, in the women-only Especial Sprint da Riviera. She did one rally in the main Azores championship: the Rally Além Mar, in which she was 21st. In 2016, she entered the Azores Ladies’ series again, still driving the Megane. She won the championship, taking two wins in the Riviera and Motorshow rounds.  She entered the Azores Ladies' championship again in 2017, scoring several second places in the Megane.

Carla Guimarães - Portuguese driver, active in the early 1990s. She drove a Citroen AX in Portuguese rallies in 1991. Although she had some non-finishes due to accidents, her highlight of the year was an eighth place in the Rali Sintrense. She changed the Citroen for a Nissan Sunny GTI-R in 1992, but did not finish either of her major events, due to mechanical trouble. She does not appear to have continued in rallying after 1992.

Marta Neves – Portuguese driver currently competing in the Portuguese Ladies’ Rally Trophy. She began rallying in 2009, in a Citroen Saxo, and had a best result of ninth in her first season, in the Cidade de Gondomar Rally. In 2008 and 2009, she used a Peugeot 206, and managed another top-twenty finish, 19th in the 2009 Gondomar event. This earned her some points in the Portugal Open championship. After a break, she returned to rallying in 2013, driving a Peugeot 205 and 306 at the CAM Rally Masters Festival, before re-entering the championship, usually driving the 306. Her best result was 23d, in the Guimarães Rallysprint, where she won her class. She also won her class in the União Rallysprint. This was enough for a class runner-up spot at the end of the season. In 2015, she achieved one fifth place in the all-female Praia da Vitória Rallysprint, and a class win, with a 17th place overall, in the Cidade de Guimarães Rally. Her car is a Citroen Saxo. She was fifth in the Ladies' championship. In 2016, still in the Saxo, she switched to mixed competition, and had a best finish of 16th, in the Rali Nova de Cerveira. Her only 2017 event was the Penafiel Racing Fest, in which she was 22nd overall in the Saxo. She entered the Gondomar Rally in 2018 but did not finish.

Diana Pereira – took part in the Peugeot 206 Cup (Formula Peugeot), as part of the 2006 Portuguese Rally Championship. Her best overall result was 29th, in the Rally of Portugal. Her position within the Peugeot Cup was fourth, another season’s best. She ended the year just out of the top ten. After that, she has not rallied competitively, although she has driven the course car on a couple of occasions, once in a Mitsubishi Lancer. Her navigator was Inês Ponte. Diana is also known as a model.

Isabel Ramos - another Madeira-based driver. As well as the Madeira championship, she has also entered events on the mainland. She has been competing since at least 2002, when she drove a Toyota Yaris in the Rali Vinho Madeira. Much later, in 2007, she reappears with a Citroen C2. The C2 was retained the following year, and used in a number of events, including the Rali Vinho Madeira, until the 2009 Rali da Calheta, when it was changed for a Renault Clio R3. This has been her regular car since then, into 2011. Her best result is 12th, in the 2010 Rali da Calheta. In 2012, she contested the Madeira championship, and was seventh or eighth in all of her events, apart from the Rali Vinho de Madeira, from which she retired. In 2014, she drove the Clio R3 in rallies in Madeira, including Rali Vinho da Madeira, a European championship round. She was twelfth. Her best outright result was fifth, in the Porto Santo Line Rally, and she achieved five more top-ten finishes, many of them class wins. She was the winner of the Portuguese Ladies' Trophy in 2015, after two class wins, and a victory in the all-female Praia da Vitória Rallysprint. In addition to this, she continued to perform strongly in the Madeira championship, winning the Ladies' and RC3 class titles in her Renault Clio. Her best overall finish was seventh, in the ZOOM-TRAP Rally. She defended her championships in 2016, and was eleventh in the Madeira championship, with four top-ten finishes. In 2017, she won another Ladies' title, and was fourteenth in the Madeira championship. She managed two tenth places, in the Maritimo Machico and Municipio de Santa Cruz rallies. In 2018, she was second in class in the Madeira championship with a best finish of eleventh in the Municipio de Sao Vicente Rally.

Celeste Roda - Portuguese driver who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her signature car was a Datsun 100A. Her best result was a 17th place in the 1980 Volta a Madeira, then a round of the European championship. She competed in the Madeira Rally at least five times during her career and also rallied in the Azores, taking part in at least two editions of the Sao Miguel Rally.

Daniela Rodrigues – Portuguese driver who has been rallying since at least 2009. Her first rally car was a SEAT Marbella. Between 2009 and 2011, she was part of the Portuguese Junior championship, finishing ninth in 2011. Her best result was eleventh, in the Santo Thyrso ConVida Rally. In 2012, she was eighth in the same event, driving a Citroen Saxo this time. In the same car, she was fifth in the CAM Rally Festival. Since then, she has continued to rally the Saxo. In 2013, she re-entered the Junior championship, and was fourth, after a thirteenth place in the Cidade de Guimarães. In 2014, she rallied mainly in the Azores, and in 2015, competed in the Portuguese Ladies Rally Trophy. Her best finish was third, in the all-female Praia di Vitória Rallysprint. She was also 16th in the Castelo Branco Rally, and won her class.  She won her region's Ladies' title in 2018, driving the Saxo, earning an eleventh place in the Amarante Baiao Rally. After a break, she brought the Saxo back out again in 2022.

Filipa Sanguedo – Portuguese driver active since 2011. Initially, she mainly entered rallysprints, first in a Ford Escort, then in a Peugeot 306. In 2013, she scored her first top-ten finish, a sixth place in the Mesão Frio Rallysprint, driving the 306. In 2014, she drove an Opel Adam Cup car in Portugal, and achieved three more top-ten finishes, including a ninth in the Rallye Aguiar De Beira Sernancelhe. She was also tenth twice, and won her class, in the Castelo Branco and Mortágua Rallies. This earned her fourth in the Centre Regional championship. In 2015, she rallied both the Adam and the 306, using the 306 in the Portuguese Ladies’ Trophy. She was fourth in the first round, the Praia da Vitória Rallysprint, competing against her usual navigator, Sofia Mouta, and sixth overall in the Trophy. The Adam was her preferred car for other Portuguese rallies. The best of these, for her, was the Águeda Rally, in which she was 18th overall. The Adam was somewhat unreliable in 2016, but it did help her to a seventh place in the Arganil Rally. She used it again in 2017, and was fourth in the Templarios Rally Classic. In 2018, she finished one of her three rallies in the Adam, coming 18th in the Vidreiro Rally. She finished both of her events in 2019, with a best finish of 19th in the Castelo Branco Rally.

Diana Soares - experienced co-driver from Portugal who has recently switched seats to drive herself. As a navigator, she competed often with Manuel Texeira in the Portuguese championship. In 2018, she started rallying her own Nissan Micra. Due to the car’s size and low power, it is not capable of challenging for wins, but she scored a pleasing fourth in class in the Vila Medieval de Ourem Rally. Her overall classification was 46th. She rallied the Micra again in 2019, entering three rallies. During 2020's limited season, she got out once, finishing 15th in the Rallye Serras de Fafe e Felgueiras in the Micra. In 2022, she rallied a Peugeot 206 and was twelfth in the Extra section of the Rali Montelongo Carlos Vieira.

Paula Veloso Amaral - Portuguese driver in the 1980s and 1990s. She entered five Portuguese championships, and contested her home World Championship round three times. The first time, in 1988, she was 31st, ninth in Group N, driving a Renault 11 Turbo. She returned in 1993 in a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V and was 26th, again ninth in class. In 1998 she did not finish in her Skoda Favorit. Her co-drivers were Cabral Serrano and Ariana Silva. She now works as a journalist.

(Image from http://www.direita3.pt/2018/joana-barbosa-com-jornada-aziaga-em-fafe/)

Junior Rallying

Alice Paterson and Amy McCubbin

Junior rallying for 14-17 year olds is a relatively recent innovation, mainly found in the UK and Scandinavia. Girls are often involved. Below are profiles of some of the youngest rally drivers in Europe.

Lina Björklund - currently competes in the Junior class of Swedish rallying. She started her rally career in 2013, in a Volvo 940, and was 53rd in her first event, the LRD-Ruschen. This was enough to attract the attention of Ramona Karlsson, who named her as one of her “Young Female Drivers”, who are being mentored by Ramona. In 2014, she undertook a wide programme of Swedish rallies, and enjoyed a best finish of eleventh, in the Föneruschen event. She also scored three Youth class wins, quite early in the season, and was a strong contender for the championship. She also managed another, separate class win in the Kullingstrofén, and was 75th overall. In 2017, she did not manage many rallies, but was twelfth in the Jamtrallyt, in the Volvo. Prior to taking up rallying, Lina competed on the circuits for three years, in the Renault Junior Cup. In 2012, she was second in the championship, with three wins.

Jenna McCann – Irish driver who came to prominence competing in the Junior championship in Ireland. In 2017, she won the Irish Junior Tarmac Championship. She started her 2015 campaign in a Peugeot 106, which gave her a best finish of sixth in the Cavan Stages Junior Rally, but became increasingly reliable. A Ford Fiesta R2 proved more reliable, and gave her two fifth places, in the Clare and Wexford Junior rallies. She was seventh in the championship overall, and the only female driver. A move into the Irish National Championship in 2016 led to a win her class in the Cavan Stages, finishing 47th overall. She finished all ten of her events. She won her first rally in 2017: the Cork 20 International Junior Rally. In 2018, she mostly took part in senior events in her Fiesta, in both Eire and Northern Ireland. Despite this, she went back to Junior competition for the early part of 2019, earning two more top-tens in Irish events driving the Fiesta. Later, she sampled the power of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX on the Cork Forest Rally, but did not finish. Although opportunities for competition were limited in 2020, she entered two more senior rallies in the Lancer, finishing the Carrick on Suir Rally in 21st place from 48 finishers. After a year's break, she returned in 2022 with a Ford Fiesta, in which she had a best finish of ninth in the Laois Rallysprint. A few more rallies in the Fiesta in 2023 led to an eleventh place in the Tipperary Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally. Back out in 2025, she was twelfth in the Mayo Forestry Rally and fourteenth in the Tipperary event. Her first experiences with rallying came from navigating for her father, James McCann, in 2013.

Letisha Conn - rallies in Scotland and Northern Ireland in junior events. She began in 2019, aged fourteen. Her car for the Northern Ireland Rallysport championship was a Citroen C1, and she managed a win at Aghadowey as well as a third at Nutts Corner. In Scotland, she normally drove a Peugeot 107, in which she was not quite as competitive, picking up two fourth places in the Condor and Crail Stages. She rallied in Irish gravel events in 2020, although her first outing, the Limerick Forest Rally, was stopped due to snow. She did not finish the Carrick on Suir Rally. Her last season as a junior gave her a first win, the 2021 Annabelle Tennant Miltown Junior Stages Rally. She was also second in the Albar Kames Trophy Junior event, driving a Skoda Citigo. Back in the C1, she tackled her first senior rally, the Boggeragh Rallysprint. 2022 was a mix of UK junior rallies and senior events and she used the Citroen, Skoda, C1, a Peugeot 106 and a Ford Fiesta. She brought the Fiesta out again for three more senior events in 2023, recording a best finish of 50th in the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally. She continued to compete in 2024, driving a BMW E87, in the UK and Ireland, although she had a lot of bad luck with reliability.

Amy McCubbin - active in junior rallies in the UK since 2016, when she was fourteen years old. In her first season, she was eleventh in the 1000 Junior Ecosse championship, driving a Nissan Micra. Her best finish was ninth in the ABR Travel Services Junior Rally. In 2017, she improved dramatically, and became a regular top ten finisher, despite swapping her Micra for a Skoda Citigo. Her best finish has been fifth, in the Granite Junior Stages, driving the Citigo. She was seventh in the 2017 Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge. In 2018, she continued for another season as a junior, in the Citigo.

Kasia Nicklin - one of the youngest-ever rally drivers in the UK. She began rallying in 2010 in Junior F1000, aged fourteen. Her car was a Nissan Micra, and her best result was fourth in the Junior class, in the Hall Trophy Stages. In 2011, she continued in the same series and the same car, and was a more consistent top-ten contender, with multiple fourth places. In 2012, she continued in the Junior class, and achieved second places in the Honington and Woodbridge Stages. She was seventh in the junior class. She did three major rallies in 2013, in the Micra. Her best finish was 20th on the Woodbridge Stages, where she won her class. She does not appear to have competed in 2014, but she managed to get out again in the Micra in 2015. Her best result was 24th, second in class, in the Flying Fortress Stages. In 2021 she returned to action in the Micra, entering the Snetterton Stages. The car was replaced by a Ford Fiesta R2 for three more rallies in 2022, and three more in 2023, including a 17th place in the Lookout Stages Rally.

Alice Paterson - started rallying at the age of fourteen in 2016. She contested the 1000 Junior Ecosse Challenge and was twelfth overall, driving a Peugeot 107. Her best rally result was thirteenth, which she achieved on five out of her six rallies. She stuck with the same car for 2017 and earned some better finishes; four out of her five rallies have ended in top tens. The best of these was a fifth place in the 5 Star Junior Stages. Both Alice and Amy McCubbin spoke out in the Scottish papers against David Coulthard when he cast doubts on women’s ability to race cars. Her 2018 season was quite similar, although she did suffer a couple of retirements.

Erica Winning - took part in junior rallies in the UK in 2018, driving a Nissan Micra. She mostly competed in Scotland, in the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge. From seven events, all of which she finished, she managed four top-tens, the best of these being two ninth places in the Condor Memorial Gardens and 5 Star Junior Stages. 2018 was her first season as a rally driver. Her second gave her five top-ten finishes in junior events in 2019. After a break, she returned to competition in 2021, finishing fifth in the Mach 1 Junior Stages. She has since switched to co-driving.

(Image from http://www.soscc.co.uk)

Rallycross in Scandinavia

Magda Andersson

The Scandinavian nations produce many rallycross drivers and women get in on the action too, especially in the national championships. Camilla Antonsen and Susann Bergvall now have their own profile.

My Adolfsson - rallycross driver from Sweden. She raced in the Swedish junior championship in 2014, in a Vauxhall Corsa. Her first race came when she was still only 16. Due to car problems, she did not complete all the rounds. She was fifteenth overall in the NGK Masters, after finishing second in one of her qualifying races, then suffering more car trouble. Previously, she competed in Folkrace, from the age of fourteen, and she still races on occasion, in the Women’s class. Her 2015 season in the Swedish rallycross championship was badly affected by a leg injury to My, who sat out part of the year following surgery. At the end of the year, she returned for the season finale, driving her Corsa. She is or was part of Ramona Karlsson’s Young Female Drivers mentoring project. In 2017, she took part in Folkrace events and continued in the discipline.

Klara Andersson - winner of the Swedish 2150 class rallycross championship in 2021, driving a 1-series BMW. Later in the year, she entered the RX2e class of the FIA Rallycross championship, finishing fourth at Spa in her debut event. This followed a second place in the 2020 Swedish Junior Rallycross championship. 2020 was her third season in rallycross after several years of karting. She is a member of the Swedish Junior team and her sister, Magda Andersson, also competes in rallycross in Europe. In addition to rallycross, she tested an Extreme E car in Sardinia in October 2021. This led to an Extreme E seat with the Abt Cupra team in Chile and Uruguay, subbing for Jutta Kleinschmidt. She won her first X Prix in Uruguay. She was seventh in the 2022 World Rallycross RX1e championship, driving a PWR car. Her best finish was third in Portugal. She was called up for a full-time Extreme E drive for Cupra in 2023, sharing with Nasser al-Attiyah and Sebastien Loeb. She was sixth in the championship, with a best finish of third in Sardinia. In rallycross, she was seventh again in RX1e, finsihing fourth in Norway. It was a strong RX1 rallycross season for her in 2024, with a second place in Sweden and a third in Hungary, leading to sixth in the championship. The final Extreme E season wasn't quite as successful. She drove for the SUN Minimeal team with Timo Scheider and had a best finish of sixth in Scotland. For Extreme E's last tournament-style meeting in Saudi, called The Final Lap, she drove for Carl Cox Motorsport and finished eighth and sixth. She stayed with the team for the beginning of the Extreme H season.

Magda Andersson – Swedish rallycross driver who competes in the European championships. She began her rallycross career in 2012, at the age of fourteen, when she was second in the JRX (Junior Rallycross) Cup. After a couple of seasons in JRX and in the Swedish championship, she started racing in the Touring Car class of the ERC in 2015. Her car was a Ford Fiesta. She made her first final in the second round of the championship, at Lydden Hill, finishing fifth. She was then second at Estering in Germany, and third in her home race of Höljesbanan, which gave her fourth in the championship. She returned to the Touring Car championship for 2016 and won the first round. She was second in the category overall. In 2017, she changed car and team, to a Marklund Motorsport-run VW Polo. She entered the Supercar class for the first time, but found it hard going. Her best result was a sixth place in France and she was 16th in the championship. She maintained her 16th place in 2018, although she was deducted some points for a technical infringement on her Peugeot 208 by her team, Dubourg Auto. Following sponsorship issues, she decided to take a year out in 2019. She has since stepped back from competition to support her sister, Klara.

Pernille Brinkmann Larsen - competed in Danish rallycross in a Group N Citroen Saxo in 2018. This appears to have been her first season in the category, although it looks as if she did some folkerace events prior to her rallycross debut. She was eleventh in Group N in her first season, although she did not appear at all of the rounds. Later, she raced a Peugeot 309. She now appears to be involved in the administration of the Danish rallycross championship.

Malin Gjerstad - began her career in Norwegian autocross in 2009, winning three of her events, plus the Ladies’ and Junior title. Driving a SAAB 900, she continued in 2010, venturing over the border into Sweden for their junior rallycross championship, in which she was fifteenth overall. She also continued with autocross, alongside her father Morten. After sitting out most of 2011 due to pregnancy, she returned in 2012, driving an Opel Corsa. Her one points finish in the Norwegian Class 1 championship was a fourth place, at Gardermoen Motorpark. She was twelfth in the 2013 championship, with one third place. She was driving the Corsa. She drove the same car in the 2014 Norwegian championship.

Ada Marie Hvaal - Norwegian driver who competes in both rallycross and stage rallying. She began in rallycross in 2012, when she was 14, finishing second in the JRX European Rallycross Series. Her car was a Citroen DS3. By the time she was 16, she was racing in the Norwegian WRX rounds in a Renault Clio, before moving up to the Super 1600 class in 2014 in a Peugeot 207. She has also competed in the Nordic series in a VW Beetle and a Citroen C2 in the European Rallycross Championship. On the rallying side, she began entering Norwegian rallies in a Ford Fiesta in 2018. Her best result has been 39th in the 2019 Rally Hadeland, driving a Renault Twingo.  She continued to rally the Twingo in 2020, with a best finish of 40th in the Sigdalsrally.

Mathilde Lindrup - Danish driver who races a Honda Civic in her home country. She won the Danish Group N rallycross championship in 2018, with two final wins at Lovel and Ornedalen in the early part of the season. She was fifth in the same class in 2017. Mathilde began racing at fourteen in Folkrace events, using a Peugeot 306. She won the Danish championship for under-16s in 2016. She is from a rallycross family and competes alongside her brother Frederik. In 2020 she moved to Switzerland to work as an au pair and was signed for a karting team there.

Majbritt Linnemann - Danish rallycross driver who drives a Peugeot 208 or 106 in the Danish Super 1600 championship. She was third in the category in 2018, with a best finish of second at Korskro. During the year, the 106 had to be almost completely rebuilt after an accident, but she was able to resume racing. In 2019, it was back out and she was fourth in the Super 1600 class. She started in this car in 2017 with a part-season in the same class, although she raced a 206 for a couple of years previously. After the shortened 2020 season, she was third in S1600, and then second in 2022. She moved up to S2000 in 2023, driving a Peugeot. Majbritt is from a motorsport family and often competes against her brother Ulrik.

Lise Marie Sandmo - Norwegian driver who won the Norwegian Junior rallycross title in 2012, driving a Honda Civic, at the age of 18. She was the first female driver to do so. She was also fourth in the senior Northern European Zone 1600 rallycross championship, with a best finish of fifth. Her driving career began in 2010, in rallycross, and she was second in her first race. In 2011, she was fifth in the junior series, as well as competing in autocross at Junior level. 2013 saw her win a second Norwegian junior championship, as will as finishing seventh in the Northern Europe Super 1600 championship. Her car was the Civic. In 2014, she entered two rounds of the European Rallycross Championship, driving a VW Polo in the Super 1600 class. She scored one point. She drove the Polo in some rounds of the European S1600 championship again in 2015, but her season was marred by a pitlane accident involving her father. She did at least some NEZ championship races in 2016, but the results are proving elusive. In 2020, she completely dominated the Danish Super 1600 Rallycross championship, still driving a VW Polo.

Fanny Thrygg - Swedish driver who has been driving in rallycross across Europe since at least 2005. 2005 was her first season in the European Championship, and she was 33rd in Division 2, driving a Peugeot 306. She was 32nd the following year, after finishing ninth in France. She did not do as well in 2007 and was only 35th. A string of final finishes pushed her up to 19th in 2008, still in the ageing 306. She was thirteenth in 2009, after three points finishes. As well as the European championship, Fanny also races in Sweden and makes appearances in other European events, although she does not seem to have competed since 2009.

Camilla Traerup - rallycross driver from Denmark. She has been active in the Danish championship since at least 2011 and has been racing for longer, having started in folkerace events in an Opel Astra in 2007. For most of her rallycross career, she has driven a Group N Honda Civic, in which she was second in class in 2017. Her car in 2018 was a Mitsubishi Colt.

(Image copyright Magda Andersson)

Katarina Kyvalova

Katarina Kyvalova is a German-based Slovakian driver most famous for her exploits in historic racing, at the Goodwood Revival and as part of the Bentley Belles team. She took her first steps in modern motorsport in 2018, in the GT4 European Series.

Katarina has been active in historic motorsport since 2000, starting off in rallies in Germany before switching her focus to circuit racing. She still drives in classic navigational rallies on occasion, usually in a Jaguar E-Type.

On track, her first car was an Austin-Healey 3000 which she raced in the UK and Europe. She has competed at Goodwood, the Silverstone Classic and several VSCC meetings.  

In 2015, she raced the Healey in the Le Mans Legend, and was 37th out of 43 finishers.

She is also part of the “Bentley Belles”, a quartet of female historic racers who drive Bentleys. They teamed up for the first time at the 2014 Benjafields 24 Hour race in Portugal, having only met each other in person the day before. The quartet were twelfth overall, in a Bentley 4 ½, having run as high as fifth. The team is involved in various Bentley-related rallies and races, and were third overall in the 2015 Spa 6 Hours historic race. In their individual cars, they raced in the VSCC Pomeroy Trophy in 2015.

Driving with Nigel Batchelor and others, she entered the 2016 Le Mans Classic in two different cars, the Bentley and a Jaguar XK120. She doubled up in these two cars again in the 2018 Classic, driving solo this time.

In 2017, she raced a Jaguar E-Type, and a Cooper T43 in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy at Goodwood. Goodwood has been one of her happiest hunting grounds; she was ninth in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy at the 2018 Revival in the Cooper. Earlier in the year, she raced this car in the Monaco Historic Grand Prix and was 14th from 26 finishers.

Her modern racing debut was at the wheel of a Mercedes AMG GT4. She raced in the GT4 European Series at Spa with Egidio Perfetti and secured a class third in her first event. She followed this up with a run in the 2019 Dubai 24 Hours, finishing ninth in the GT4 class with Jon Minshaw, Ryan Ratcliffe and Gabriele Piana. Their car was a Mercedes-AMG and they were 33rd overall.

During the 2019 summer season, Katarina got back in her Bentley for the Goodwood Revival, which held a celebratory race for pre-war Bentleys. This was her second Goodwood outing of the year in the car, which she also drove in the Members' Meeting in the spring.

That summer, she spent quite a lot of time racing the E-Type. She was fourth in class in the Spa Six Hours Classic and entered rounds of the Sixties Endurance series at Spa and Dijon. The Cooper came out again for the Greatest and Peter Collins Trophies and she even managed to fit in a couple of events in a Porsche 911.

Her second attempt at the Dubai 24 Hours was cut short by a flooded track, but she had joined up with Ciceley Motorsport in a Mercedes, with Jon Minshaw, Adam Morgan, Jake Giddings and Jack Butel. They were sixth in class when the race was officially stopped at the seven-hour mark.

The 2020 coronavirus crisis limited everyone's opportunity for competition. Katarina's main event was the 10,000 Laps event at Paul Ricard in the Sixties Endurance race. She shared an E-Type with Jon Minshaw and was running seventh overall when the car had to retire with a broken gearbox.

The E-Type came out again for the Spa Six Hours, and she was second in class with Ben Clucas. She was also active in the Cooper T33 at both Goodwood and the Monaco Historic, finishing fifth in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy at Goodwood and fifth in the 1952-1957 sportscar race at Monte Carlo.

It was a similar schedule for 2022, with the Cooper coming out for Monaco and the Goodwood Members' Meeting. She entered the E-Type into the Le Mans Classic but was unable to start.

She raced the Bentley once more at Goodwood in 2023, as well as finishing fifth in class in the E-Type in the Spa Six Hours. It was back to the Cooper again for the 2024 Monaco Historic and Goodwood Members' Meeting, but she also brought out the Bentley for the Goodwood Revival. She was eighth in the 2025 Freddie March Memorial Trophy at Goodwood, driving the Cooper.

(Image copyright Katarina Kyvalova)

Paige Bellerby

Paige Bellerby is a racewinning rallycross driver in the UK at both junior and senior level.

She began racing in the BTRDA Junior Rallycross Championship in the winter of 2009, when she was fourteen. This was not even her first motorsport experience; she had been racing a Junior Special in autograss for two years. She learned to drive at the age of seven in a Nissan Micra.

The 2009 winter season was just practice before tackling the full championship in 2010. She scored one win at Blyton, and four second places. At the end of the season, she won the title, due to her consistent presence in finals.

In 2011, she moved up to the Swift Sport junior rallycross series, and was third overall, with a best finish of third, achieved twice at Mondello Park and Knockhill.

She moved on to senior competition in 2012, in the form of the Swift Sport Cup, which uses a similar Suzuki Swift to the junior class. Her best finish was fourth, at Pembrey, and she was eighth overall.

Her second season in the Swift series ended up being very much a part-season. She only managed to compete in the last round, at Croft, her home circuit, finishing eighth.

After sitting out much of 2014 as well, Paige returned to action at Pembrey, driving a Lotus Exige in the SuperNational class of the British championship. Her best finish in the new car was fifth, in her last race of the season.

In 2015, she raced in the British Supernational championship, in a Lotus Exige. At Croft, the final round, she became the first female driver to win an "A" Final in the class. Her final championship position was third.

The Exige became her regular car and her “A” Final win was far from being a one-off.

In 2016, she won two "A" Finals, at Croft and Mondello Park, on her way to another Supernational third.

She improved this to second in 2017, winning three rounds outright including two at her favoured circuit of Croft, at the beginning and end of the season. The Round One victory was against Ash Simpson, who has won the Supernational title twice.

Her opposition upped their game in 2018 and she did not manage a win that year, but she was still fourth in the championship with three second places, at Lydden and Croft.

In 2019, she was unable to defeat Tristan Ovendon, who won every single round, but she did manage to keep herself in second place, with two runner-up spots and one third in Supernational. Lydden was one of her happiest hunting grounds and she also ran strongly at Pembrey.

She competed in the 5 Nations British Rallycross championship in 2020. Only two rounds from six ended up being held, both at Lydden Hill. Paige was the Super National champion in her overhauled Exige, winning two of the three races.

The disrupted 2021 season featured another win for her at Lydden Hill, but she had to settle for third in the championship. She managed another win and six second places to finish second in the 2022 championship.

She did the first two rounds of the Swift class in the 2023 British championship, finishing fifth and second.

Paige is the daughter of multiple rallycross champion Dave Bellerby. Her sister Drew also races in rallycross, as does her cousin Matilda Procter. Away from motorsport, she serves in the REME in the British Army.

(Image copyright Paige Bellerby)