Born in Milan in 1994, Rachele Somaschini is a driver who combines her unstoppable passion for cars with a charitable cause. Suffering from cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects several organs, especially the lungs, Rachele is motivated by a motto that challenges her to overcome her own limits. Her health condition has never been an obstacle to pursuing her passion and she already has a vast career, not only in Italy but also with several international series, such as the FIA ERC and TER Series in the past seasons.
In 2025, she is taking on a new and exciting challenge: competing in 6 rounds of the World Rally Championship, including the Portuguese event. We got to know this warrior driver a little better.
1. Rachele you are a professional rally driver, not the most common life choice for a woman. Especially in a particular condition like yours. Where does all this passion come from?
I grew up in a family passionate about motorsports: my father raced cars in the 80s and 90s. also paired with his friend, the well-known driver Arturo Merzario. My mom rode a trial bike for fun. When I was born, before I could even walk, my dad gave me a small electric toy Jeep. At first, I would climb on it, and then, as I grew older and could finally reach the pedals, I would drive around the garden, racing with my two dogs. Over the years, my father tried to get me into go-karts, but it was too early, and I was initially scared… The dream to become a driver probably was born at that time, but I became fully aware of it when I joined my father in a proper competition in Monza circuit as soon as I got my driving license, 18 years old. But due to my genetic disease, called cystic fibrosis, my dream was considered quite impossible…
2. You were born with cystic fibrosis, a severe genetic disease affecting internal organs. How did it impact you as a child, and how does it impact you now?
Cystic fibrosis is a complex genetic disease that damages the major internal organs, particularly the lungs, progressively leading to the inability to breathe. It remains invisible for a long time, making it difficult to explain and raise awareness about it. When I was younger, the treatments were much longer and more complicated, but thanks to scientific research, daily life has improved significantly but still including demanding routines, drugs and respiratory physiotherapy. However, as it is a degenerative disease, the issues increase with age: bacterial infections, declining lung capacity, hospitalizations… Nevertheless, thanks to new therapies, available to 70% of patients, the average life expectancy is rising (currently 40 years) and quality of life has improved. This is why it is vital to support research.
3. Cystic fibrosis mainly impacts the lung capacity. How and when were you able to take up motor sports and compete at such a high level?
Even if I was often told it was not possible for me to combine my life routines with the motorsport efforts, step by step, I began planning 2 or 3 races a year, which eventually turned into an entire Championship. Life with cystic fibrosis is like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. When I moved from circuit racing to rallying, which is much more demanding, I decided to focus on my health in every aspect, making it my top priority: healthy eating, gym workouts, mental health, and managing anxiety. By doing this, I was able to improve my endurance and could commit myself to rallying full time.
4. In motorsport you had to deal with a mainly male-dominated world. How difficult was it for you to manage this kind of barrier? And what about your move from circuit to rallying?
Being one of the few women in a predominantly male environment certainly helped me at the beginning. I was able to attract attention, even if this can work like a boomerang: if you don’t deliver results or perform well, the attention turns extremely negative and is accompanied by the usual negatives clichéés.
So, I had to work very hard to earn respect. Luckily, I got winning results on track and in hill climbs in those years of my competition’s debut and I was more and more accepted as a driver.
Thanks to these first success I was noticed by a rally academy that was looking for a young female team to bring into rallying, and I immediately accepted the challenge. However, I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to enter a totally new kind of sport. I had to change completely my habits and driving style. In my first season in the Italian Rally Championship (the top Italian rally series), I was not able to achieve the same results as before, so I had to keep my head down and work hard again.
Year after year, though, I learned to manage the challenges and eventually managed to get results in this extremely complicated discipline as well.
5. You have driven in the Italian Rally Championship, European Rally Championship and now you are entering a full program in the World Rally Championship, the pinnacle of the sport. Can you tell us which kind of commitment it takes to compete full-time?
From the outside, it all seems like “smooth sailing,” but that’s not exactly the case: racing is just the final step of a long and hard work behind the scenes. It starts with securing the budget from sponsors, then moves on to the technical management of choosing the team, the car, and the championship. Then there’s all the personal management: taking care of cystic fibrosis, physical training, mental training to handle anxiety and pressure during competition… it’s an extremely stressful sport. You need to have a strong body and mind, prepared to deal with all the unexpected challenges. I’ve grown a lot over the years in every aspect, but it wouldn’t’t have been possible without the motivation that always pushes me to give my best.
6. There were moments in your life when you felt like abandoning your fight?
Honestly yes, but for a very short time. When you work so hard with a goal in your mind and something out of your control interferes negatively, you may feel discouraged. But I always try to find the way to move on.
I was informed without any warning that our agreement wouldn’t be renewed due to a change in company policy. They told me this in November, when most company budgets were already closed, leaving me at risk of missing the entire next season. I felt like my world was falling apart because the challenge seemed overwhelming, and there wasn’t enough time to react. But instead, I kept my head down, stayed motivated, and piece by piece, I worked hard and found solutions. It wasn’t easy, but I did it, and despite such an uncertain year, I still managed to win two titles.
Other tough moments were related to health issues, which forced me into long hospital stays with some serious complications, or through lengthy and intense treatments, like the one I’m undergoing now, which started a year ago. I’ve experienced feelings of discouragement and fear, but the drive to keep going ultimately won out. Believing in a project is the most powerful weapon to face tough situations.
7. You are combining your motorsport activity with a charity project #CorrerePerUnRespiro, aimed at raising awareness and funds for Cystic fibrosis research, and you got also some several recognitions about this commitment. Could you explain more about it?
CorrerePerUnRespiro was born in 2016: I decided to turn my passion for motorsports into a tool to raise awareness among car enthusiasts about cystic fibrosis, a little-known and invisible genetic disease, but severe.
Many motorsport fans, and beyond, have supported the project in their own ways, through donations, initiatives, visibility or simply donating their time. I have always tried to give a voice to the many young people who, like me, are affected by this disease, to explain what means to live with cystic fibrosis, and how crucial are the desire to fight and scientific research.
The project aims not only to raise funds to finance research but also to inform people about cystic fibrosis and share experiences. To date, we have raised over 470,000 Euros in donations, which have funded important research projects to find a cure for everyone, which is my ultimate goal in life.
8. You also published a book about your life, not an easy task and makes us vulnerable. What made you decide to write your story in the book “Correre Per Un Respiro” (“racing for a breath”)? and what do readers discover about you, and about CF?
Making my life public with cystic fibrosis has not always been easy. At 16, I realized that hiding wouldn’t’t do any good and that I could be helpful to those who, like me, are fighting this disease, as well as to all the families that must take care of children affected by the illness.
I understood that I could do something real to help them. So, I decided to open myself and the book is the true story of the most important milestones and crucial moments that have allowed me to grow and improve, based on the “glass half full” approach.
I also wanted to tell the story of Angelica, my dearest friend who was taken by cystic fibrosis when she was 25 years old. She taught me that “You are all the limits you overcame” and this mindset is guiding my everyday life approach. I hope that by sharing her story, I can help others just as she helped me.
That’s why I tattooed this sentence on my skin, that is also well visible on the door of my rally car, to watch it every time I get into the car.
So, the book talks about racing, passions, private life, love, illness, difficult times, and moments of joy… there are laughs and tears and in life like in a rally, we try to navigate through the various special stages we go through, doing our best and never forgetting to… improvise!
Furthermore, the book has a charity purpose, as all revenues are donated to the CF Foundation.
9. What do you love most about motorsport? What is your motorsport dream?
The feeling I have when I’m behind the wheel is wonderful, and my desire to get back in the car always reminds me that passions should be pursued with grit and determination! Especially when I’m in the hospital and going through tough moments, the thought of getting back in the car makes me happy! It’s like fuel for my body…My dream is to continue living off the emotions that rallying gives me: striving to achieve the best results possible, gaining experience, and always having enough health and energy to keep going. This season the dream to compete in WRC came true so I am already thinking about the bigger one: one day to take part in the Dakar challenge. Keeping on dreaming makes me think positively about the future: so please keep your fingers crossed for me!
10. AMM: Why did you choose to take on WRC2 this year?
RS:
Competing at the highest level of the sport has always been a dream of mine — especially getting the chance to take part in iconic events I’ve followed with passion for years. This season, the stars aligned: one of my sponsors was pushing for it, and most importantly, after a long and heavy therapy I am still undergoing, my health allowed me to go for it. So that dream became reality.
11. AMM: What are your personal and sport-related goals for this season?
RS:
On a personal level, taking on rallies so demanding — and for me, almost entirely new — is a huge challenge. Just being able to manage them mentally and physically already feels like a big win. From a sporting perspective, my main goal is to build experience and get more confident behind the wheel in complex conditions, while steadily improving my pace and performance throughout the season.
12. AMM: Of the 7 WRC races you’ve selected for this season, is there one you’re particularly excited about? And why?
RS:
I’ve dreamed of competing in Rally Sweden for years. I’d never driven on ice rallies before — those ultra-fast stages through a winter wonderland always left me speechless when I watched them. And honestly, the real thing exceeded all expectations. For a first-timer like me, it was incredibly tough — heart-pounding from start to finish — but worth it.
13. AMM: Why did you include Portugal in your program this season? What are your prospects for the Rally of Portugal?
RS:
My WRC2 program is focused on European rounds, and I love racing on gravel — so Portugal was a natural pick. I already got a taste of it at Rally Fafe, which was a great learning experience, especially with the tricky weather. I’m super curious to tackle the “WRC version” of the event now — I know it’ll be a big challenge, but I’m hoping the conditions will be a bit more manageable this time.
14. AMM: You’ve been to Portugal and other rallies before, what do you know about rallies in Portugal, is there any aspect that particularly stands out for you? And why?
RS:
There’s so much rallying passion in this country — and so much history too. The stages are legendary, and from a driving perspective, they’re just incredible. Like I said, I’m a big fan of gravel, and when you combine that with the atmosphere here, Rally Portugal is a can’t-miss event for any driver.
15. AMM: Tell us about Portuguese rally fans. Do you think they’re the best fans in the world?
RS:
To be fair, there’s deep rally culture and passionate fans in many countries. But Portuguese fans are definitely among the most enthusiastic — they’ve always welcomed me warmly, and I’m truly grateful for that.
16. AMM: The FIA has been making a move to increasingly include more women in motorsport. Do you think the FIA is on the right track? What other initiatives should it take to include more women in motorsport?
RS:
There are several ongoing efforts — including the FIA’s new program for emerging female talents and specific training initiatives. These are important steps toward normalizing the presence of women in motorsport and expanding access. The more women get involved, the more chances they’ll have to climb the ranks and compete at the top level.
17. AMM: Who do you think are the most promising youngsters in Italian rallying at the moment? Do you think some of them could make it into a factory team or even win a world title?
RS:
There are several strong young Italian drivers who definitely deserve a shot at a bigger program, including on the world stage. It’s tough to predict how far they’ll go, but the return of a legendary Italian brand like Lancia to rallying could open opportunities that simply haven’t existed until now.
18. AMM: Finally, what message can you leave all our readers and the public who will be following the Rally of Portugal on the road?
RS:
I’d encourage everyone to respect the safety rules and follow the marshals’ instructions — it’s the most responsible and helpful way to ensure the event runs smoothly and safely, both for us drivers and for the fans who want to enjoy this incredible show to the fullest.
A few factual questions
