AOIFE RAFTERY Returns to ARA Championship for Rally3 Debut at Overmountain Rally

September 12, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

AOIFE RAFTERY is back in America for the Overmountain Rally, making her competitive debut in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 with Standard Motorsports after her breakthrough podium at Olympus Rally in April. The Irish driver’s transition from her European Rally Championship Peugeot 208 Rally4 to the four-wheel-drive Fiesta represents a significant step up, and she’s targeting another podium finish in the penultimate ARA Championship round.
Working alongside co-driver HANNAH MCKILLOP, RAFTERY will tackle Tennessee’s technical, twisty stages that differ markedly from the fast, flowing roads of her previous American outings. She’s been studying onboards and consulting with experienced drivers to prepare for the 100 competitive miles across 16 gravel stages, confident the technical nature will suit the Fiesta Rally3’s characteristics better than her previous machinery.
As a DirtFish Women in Motorsport Driver, RAFTERY emphasizes the importance of representing women at every level of motorsport, drawing inspiration from the program’s recent summit and her collaboration with coordinator Josie Rimmer and fellow driver Michele Abbate. Her return to America showcases the growing strength of rally in the region while she benchmarks herself against top competitors including Travis Pastrana’s Subaru.