Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy member Aoife Raftery will drive Craig Breen’s 2015 Circuit of Ireland Rally-winning Peugeot 208 T16 R5 at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The world-famous showcase of motorsport history takes place on the grounds of Goodwood House in Sussex, England from Thursday to Sunday this week.
The Festival of Speed celebrates the wonderful 51-year history of the World Rally Championship and the entry list, which includes current WRC leader Thierry Neuville and reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä, reads like and who-is-who of world motorsport.
Invited drivers get to drive cars of significant historical importance on Goodwood’s Forest Rally Stage.
Designed by 1981 World Rally Champion Hannu Mikkola, the stage was first used during the 2005 Festival of Speed. It’s tight, challenging, and entertaining for both drivers and spectators, who will get to see a mix of historic and contemporary rally cars put through their paces.
The Galway driver is currently contesting the Junior FIA European Rally Championship in a Peugeot 208 Rally4 and has been invited to participate in the iconic event for the first time.
She will drive the Peugeot 208 T16 R5 that the late Breen, one of her all-time rallying heroes, drove to victory on the 2015 Circuit of Ireland.
It will be her first time driving a four-wheel-drive car on any event.
The car has been recently restored to its period livery and this weekend’s event will be its first public appearance in these colours for nearly ten years.
The car has arrived at Goodwood and 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 deal to drive the car came with the blessing of the Breen family.
