Juliet wins Pirelli Girl pole position

LAW student Juliet Ward is certainly a woman who knows how to rally to a good cause.

The 21-year-old motor racing fanatic has just been named the first-ever winner of the RallyXS Pirelli Girl competition.

Juliet from Magazine Road, Cork, was selected from more than 1,000 girls from Britain and Ireland who entered the competition organised jointly by the specialist rally magazine and well-known Italian tyre manufacturer.

Over 50,000 members of the public voted the UCC graduate as their favourite Pirelli Girl from six finalists.

The former Miss Cork entrant, who does part-time promotional work, admits to being a huge fan of motor rallying since obtaining her driving licence aged 17.

“I just got interested in the sport from hanging around with boys. I’d be a regular at races in Clonakilty. I think it certainly helped that I was the only finalist who had a clue about rally driving,” said Juliet, who has attended a rally school in Monaghan.

As part of her prize, Juliet receives a one-year modelling contract with RallyXS and Pirelli and will work with leading drivers such as Tommi Makinen and Colin McRae at this year’s World Rally Championship which takes place in 14 countries across four continents. She will also feature in Channel 4’s coverage of the competition.

“I’m the biggest rally fan ever so this will be my dream job for the next year,” said Juliet.

Her first assignment will be at the Sanremo rally in Italy next weekend, even though it means she will miss out on her graduation ceremony at UCC.

However, Juliet who describes herself in one word as “naughty”, dispelled any association between her modelling prize and Pirelli’s legendary calendars featuring nude models.

“No, I’m not going to be going naked,” she laughed.

Pirelli spokesperson Martin Pallot predicted that Juliet’s modelling career could soon be burning rubber because of the sport’s growing popularity.

“Rally driving is going to become the new Formula One. That’s now seen as boring because Ferrari have become so predictable. For Juliet this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy all motorsport events, while travelling around the world. She will be a real asset to the sport.”