Schönborn took part in a talent competition for female drivers last autumn, where the winner was awarded a fully funded Junior WRC season for 2025.
The final of the competition was held during the Central European Rally, where Schönborn competed against Lyssia Baudet from Belgium and Suvi Jyrkiäinen from Finland. However, after the event, the programme’s judging panel was unable to select a winner. As a result, Schönborn and Baudet were given one more head-to-head showdown during last weekend’s Rally Sweden.
The German driver was significantly faster than Baudet on Sweden’s snowy stages. At the finish, Schönborn had a winning margin of three minutes over her rival.
With this victory, Schönborn becomes the first driver to join the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme, earning her a place in the Junior WRC.
She will now compete in the remaining four JWRC rounds, held in Portugal, Greece, Finland, and Central Europe.
“It’s unbelievable,” Schönborn said enthusiastically.
“At the moment it’s hard to comprehend what we have achieved. It was a pleasure to be part of Rally Sweden and we are so happy that we finished without any damage – that was the main goal. Now the hard work starts to participate in the Junior WRC for the rest of the season,” the German hopeful added.
WRC Promoter’s Senior Director of Sport and Chairman of the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme, Peter Thul praised Schönborn’s performance.
“This is exactly what we set out to achieve with the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme – identifying and supporting talented female drivers on their journey to the top. Claire delivered an impressive performance in Sweden, and her progression to the FIA Junior WRC is well deserved,” Thul stated.
The Junior WRC series is contested with four-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars. In Rally Sweden, the category was won by Taylor Gill from Australia, with Mille Johansson from Sweden finishing second. Schönborn ended up more than ten minutes behind the winner.
