Beyond Rally Women's Driver Development Programme finalists Lyssia Baudet and Claire Schönborn will both tackle the icy stages of next year's WRC Rally Sweden, after delivering equally impressive performances at the Central European Rally.
Selected from a pool of 15 talented drivers following an intensive three-day assessment at M-Sport Poland's Krakow headquarters, Baudet (Belgium), Schönborn (Germany), and Suvi Jyrkiäinen (Finland) were given the chance to showcase their abilities during this week's penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The rally, which began in Prague on Thursday, saw the drivers navigate 18 tough asphalt stages across Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Each day introduced new and complex challenges, from ever-changing road conditions to the varied nature of the stages themselves.
Although all three demonstrated significant potential aboard their identical Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars, Baudet and Schönborn proved inseparable in the fight for the fully funded 2025 FIA Junior WRC prize drive.
Due to their near-identical performances, both will now compete again at Rally Sweden in February, where a final decision will be made on who will receive the coveted prize drive.
The drivers experienced an emotional rollercoaster during their WRC debut. Schönborn was slowed by a fuel pressure problem on Friday, while Baudet sustained suspension damage on Saturday after clipping a road sign. Jyrkiäinen, despite her promise, was forced to retire from the rally's final two legs due to a coolant issue.
Sunday's showdown saw Baudet and Schönborn locked into a thrilling battle, with just 1.1sec separating them across the four stages.
Peter Thul, WRC Promoter's Senior Director of Sport and Chairman of the Beyond Rally Women's Driver Development Programme, said: "Both Lyssia and Claire delivered exceptional performances in extremely challenging conditions, making it incredibly difficult to choose between them. That's why we've decided to give them both the chance to compete again at Rally Sweden. Given how evenly matched they were, we feel this is the fairest approach.
"Suvi also showed tremendous potential, and despite the setbacks she faced, we're proud of her efforts. We hope she gained valuable experience from this event and we're confident it will strengthen her as a driver as she progresses in her career."
Schönborn, who began her motorsport career in Hillclimb racing, enthused: "I am just speechless at the moment - I am so grateful for this big chance that I have been given. I am a bit nervous about driving on the snow, so I will need to prepare a lot for Sweden!"
Baudet, the youngest of the three finalists at just 21 years of age, said: "Claire and I are going to Sweden and it's just amazing. I am so happy about that, and so happy for Claire too. This was my first rally in a four-wheel drive car and now I am going to Sweden, on the snow – it's just unbelievable. This is an opportunity that you have once in your life and I will take it very seriously."
