Craughwell rally driver Aoife Raftery delivered a career-best performance, finishing an impressive 4th overall after a thrilling comeback drive in the Junior European Rally Championship (Junior ERC) at Rally Poland—the third round of the 2025 championship.
Partnered by Antrim co-driver Hannah McKillop and driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4 run by Hungarian team HRT Racing Kft., Raftery showed determination and speed throughout the gravel-based event known for its flat out roads and little room for error.
After a steady start on Friday that saw the pair end the day in 9th position, Raftery mounted an impressive comeback during Saturday’s stages—climbing the leaderboard with a series of clean, consistent stage times.
By Sunday afternoon, the Irish duo had worked their way into 4th place, their highest-ever finish in the Junior ERC, against 16 of the fastest young drivers from all over Europe. Raftery being the only female driver in the championship.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with our result in Poland,” said Raftery. “It was a tough rally with very fast stages, but Hannah and I found a good rhythm, and we just kept building confidence throughout the weekend. To come away with 4th is a fantastic step forward for us. I think we really started to show our pace this weekend.”
“Of course, we will always remember Matteo, and have his family will be in our thoughts in this difficult time.”
The result adds valuable points to Raftery’s Junior ERC campaign and highlights her growing pace and composure on the European stages.
With three rounds remaining in the Junior ERC season—including events in Italy, the Czech Republic, and Croatia—Raftery now looks to continue this upward trajectory and challenge for podium positions in the second half of the championship.
Event Overview:
- Event: ORLEN Oil Rally Poland – Junior ERC Round 3
- Date: June 13–15, 2025
- Location: Mikołajki, Poland
- Result: 4th place – Junior ERC
- Car: Peugeot 208 Rally4
- Team: HRT Racing Kft.
- Co-driver: Hannah McKillop
Raftery’s performance has drawn praise across the Irish motorsport community, with her consistent development and competitive pace marking her as one of Ireland’s leading young rallying talents.
Aoife Raftery is partnered with: DirtFish | Spain’s Coach and Mini Bus Hire | O’Neill O’Malley Architects and Project Managers | Des Lyons Plant | Cannon Concrete, Oranmore | PW Plant Sales | Loughrea Auto Parts | Thatch Bar, Oranmore | M Fitzgibbons Contractors | Quinn Hardware | Lateralus B | EARS Motorsport |Kenny | (Peugeot) Galway
