Lyssia Baudet and Claire Schönborn are gearing up to conquer the icy terrains of WRC Rally Sweden next year. Their ticket to Sweden comes after an intense tiebreak at the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme during the high-stakes Central European Rally.
Chosen from 15 top talents at M-Sport Poland’s Krakow hub, the duo, along with Suvi Jyrkiäinen from Finland, plunged into a rally showdown that spanned Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany. They tackled 18 grueling asphalt stages, each presenting its unique blend of challenges—from unpredictable road conditions to varied stage designs.
Baudet, hailing from Belgium, and Schönborn, from Germany, emerged as the frontrunners in their identical, Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars. They delivered performances so synchronized that they ended the contest in a dead heat, both vying for a fully funded ride in the 2025 FIA Junior WRC.
Their journey wasn’t without drama. Schönborn faced a nerve-wracking fuel pressure hiccup, while Baudet wrestled with suspension woes after an encounter with a road sign. Meanwhile, Jyrkiäinen’s promising run was cut short by a coolant glitch, bowing out early.
The rally culminated on Sunday in a nail-biting face-off where only 1.1 seconds split Baudet and Schönborn over four stages. Peter Thul, WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport and head of the Beyond Rally initiative, praised their stellar performances. “The extraordinary skills displayed by Lyssia and Claire under such intense conditions made our decision extremely tough. It’s only fair they both advance to Rally Sweden to determine the ultimate prize winner,” he commented.
Schönborn, transitioning from Hillclimb racing, shared her exhilaration and nerves about the upcoming snow-laden rally. Meanwhile, an ecstatic Baudet, at just 21, remarked on the surreal opportunity, “Heading to Sweden, to race on snow after my first four-wheel-drive rally, is just mind-blowing. This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot, and I’m all in.”
As they prepare for their snowy challenge, both racers are fueled by determination and the thrill of their burgeoning rally careers.
