Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission - Looking back on 2024
Throughout 2024 the Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission highlighted some of the remarkable women in motorsport across the country on social media and through the Motorsport Ireland Monthly Bulletins and articles on the website. Below is a snapshot of some of the great stories that we shared, and we look forward to engaging with many more in 2025!
Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission celebrated Sport Ireland Women in Sport Week in March by profiling competitors and volunteers on social media across multiple disciplines. Women in Motorsport were highlighted under the topics of High Performance, Coaching & Officiating, Leadership & Governance and Active Participation.
For the first time ever, Motorsport Ireland were represented at Rally Jameel, a navigation off-road rally exclusively for women in Saudi Arabia. The Irish team consisted of driver Patricia Denning and co-driver Gretchen Swinburne. The Irish duo finished 2nd in class and 36th overall! A fantastic achievement as this was four day endurance event covering 300-400km each day through the desert terrain of Saudi Arabia, with the finish line in Jeddah on the Red Sea.
Rally driver Aoife Raftery was named Motorsport Ireland Road Safety Ambassador alongside fellow Irish rally driver William Creighton. Motorsport Ireland has a long-standing history of promoting road safety, with the “Keep the Race in its Place” campaign being one of the most recognisable road safety campaigns in Ireland over the last 15 years.
Also in March, the Commission hosted a hugely successful networking event in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise to celebrate International Women’s Day and Sport Ireland Women in Sport Week. The event supported by over 100 people comprising of competitors and volunteers representing all disciplines in Irish Motorsport. The event provided an opportunity for women from all Motorsport disciplines to network, encourage each other to believe in themselves, pursue their passions, and strive for excellence and it certainly delivered on this.
In May, we read about rally driver Louise Bourke competing in and finishing her first rally, the Rally of the Lakes. Louise was part of the highly competitive Junior category of the Rally of the Lakes in her Peugeot 206 Cup Car with Tom Kenneally of RallyConnection Rally School on the notes.
Ruth Nugent wrote about her trip to Montreal with marshals Chris Nugent, Enda Cully, Graham Kelly, Mattie Kennedy & Patrick Moore from Mondello Park to take up the opportunity to be an Intervention Marshal at the F1 Canadian GP. Not only that but she got the opportunity to be a key part of the all-female crew that marshalled at Turn 6.
Becky Hollinshead elaborated on how she embarked on her first motorsport event two months after joining her local motor club, Birr & District Motor Club. Becky made the jump from marshalling to competing in an Endurance Trial, on a small budget and with the help of those in the Club.
Elaine Kirwan was honoured to be part of Team Ireland at the Saint Gouëno Masters France Hill Climb. Elaine is a regular competitor on the Irish Hillclimb Championship and was one of the only two female entrants at this prestigious French event.
Noelle Horan and Sinead Canny from the Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission showed their support of the high female participation at the Stonethrowers Rally in July by attending the event and meeting in person with many remarkable women who were competing, officiating, and volunteering at the event.
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw the ICCR race series make the annual trip to Anglesey Race Circuit in Wales. The Patch Junior Mini Challenge was one of the classes to take part and it was young Holly Dunnion’s first time competing outside of Ireland.
Aoife Raftery was selected as 1 of 15 female drivers to participate in the World Rally Championship's Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development initiative.
The programme, aimed at increasing female participation in the sport at the highest level, was launched for the first time during the summer. The WRC promoter received applications from female rally drivers from across the world. Aoife impressed the selection panel with her application, which included a detailed CV and a promotional video highlighting her qualifications.
We also wished Ellen Donnelly and Tara Cunneely the best of luck in the Tillotson T4 Nations Cup in Valencia, Spain. Ellen would be competing as part of an all-female team: herself, her Mam, and Alyx Coby as her mechanic. An incredible feat.
In September Sinead Canny, a member of the Commission who is currently living in Singapore was fortunate enough to attend a private gathering with Williams Racing, where she had the opportunity to hear from James Vowles, Team Principal at Williams Racing. Sinead also had the pleasure of meeting Jamie Chadwick, winner of the W Series, a race driver for Andretti Global in Indy NXT and mentor to Lia Block.
The month of October hosted International Day of the Girl on the 11th. To acknowledge this event Holly Dunnion described her inspiring journey in motorsport from the age of 7 years old to now. Holly's incredible story shows just what can be achieved with focus and determination, and also the importance of enjoying yourself
We also celebrated Saibh Watkins. The new Sporting Trials (mudplug) season kicked off in mid-September with MEC’s Trial in Aughfarrell, and was followed two weeks later by TDC’s trial in Charlesland, Co. Wicklow. Among the 40+ competitors, one name stood out—Saibh Watkins, who aged 10 has just started competing in sporting car trials as a Junior Junior! Saibh, the ninth Watkins family member to compete in Sporting Car Trials, was excited to compete in her first mudplug. “I’ve always loved mud plugging and couldn’t wait to get started,” she said with a smile.
Aoife Raftery took a third-place finish in the Junior British Rally Championship element of the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally, held on the October Bank Holiday weekend. It was the best performance by an all-female crew on a round of the current era of the Junior British Rally Championship.
Nicole Drought took her first UK Championship win, the UK MSVR TDC Championship. She is the first female TDC Champion. Nicole adds this to the Open Clubman Irish Rallycross Championship, which she won earlier this year at the wheel of a Renault Clio 172 at Mondello Park.
Laura Hannon spoke about her motorsport journey, starting as a driving
experience customer and eventually moving into her current role of Guest Experience Executive, managing corporate events. Laura races in the ICCR Fiesta Zetec Championship and also competed in a Rallycross event, which was a learning curve but she finished with a 2nd place trophy.
Catherine Shinnors navigated on three different continents this year alongside her husband Matt in the driver’s seat. Earlier in the year they competed in the Chachoengsao Rally Thailand, and later on they competed in the Rally del Atlántico in Uruguay, the final round of the FIA South American Rally Championship. The duo also competed together in events at home.
Hanna Celsie and Laura O’Connell represented Ireland at the Formula Woman Nations Cup Qualifiers in Dubai in December, both have qualified and will once again represent Ireland at the Nations Cup in May 2025.
On the 4th of December 2024 the Motorsport Ireland Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards dinner was held in Dublin, and it was amazing to see so many females receiving awards for their participation and volunteer work in Motorsport. The Intermediate grass autocross award winner was Katelyn Long. The Junior grass autocross award went to Nicole O’Leary. The inaugural Rosemary Smith trophy was awarded to Aoife Raftery in recognition for her motorsport achievements. The Ivan Webb Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to Irish Motorsport went to Angela Henehan. In recognition of their voluntary efforts for the sport Caroline McGuinness and Maria O’Donoghue received FIA Volunteer Pins by Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper.
Commission members Noelle Horan and Rosemary Walsh were invited to join the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Chairperson Burcu Cetinkaya, Cindy Sisson (Executive Director Women in Motorsports North America) and Lyn St, James (former American race car driver and co-founder of Women in Motorsports North America) on a Girls on Track zoom call to children at a school in Kigali Rwanda, to coincide with the FIA awards ceremonies that week that were being hosted in Kigali.
Kildare native Carol Anne Armstrong, now living in Australia, was awarded the FIA Outstanding Official of the Year at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda.
In 2024, we sadly lost an incredible competitor, Katie Quinn of Kerry Motor Club. A trailblazer for women in motorsport and an inspiration to her fellow competitors, Katie’s passion and dedication left an indelible mark on the sport. She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered.
This is just a snapshot of the 2024 achievements from Irish Women in Motorsport. But we also wish to congratulate all those behind the scenes who have played a part in the success of not only our female sporting heroes but all our motorsport community. Without you we would not have these stories to report on. So, take a bow and let’s come back stronger in 2025. The Commission looks forward to meeting you at events and hearing how we can help support you no matter how big or small the ask.
Please reach out to the Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission on miwomenscommission@gmail.com or come say hi to us at your next event. Chances are we might find you first!
Happy New Year and wishing you all a wonderful 2025.
