Ahead of partnering Efrén Llarena to seventh place on Italy’s all-Tarmac counter, Spaniard Fernández, 39, took time out of her busy schedule to answer five questions from Rally.tv’s Julian Porter.
How did your motorsport adventure begin?
“I started in 2005, 20 years ago because my whole family are motorsport lovers. For us it’s our way of life, my father was a motocross rider in the national championship and also my brothers. I think motorsport is the most important for me because it’s my way of life.”
Fernández won the ERC Co-Drivers’ title for the first time in 2021
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Rally di Roma Capitale marked 200 competitive starts. Did you ever imagine you’d achieved such a milestone when your started?
“I never dreamed something like this. I started rallies as a hobby, never to be a professional co-driver. But, to be honest, I am so happy to be here and to win titles for me is very special, especially in the international events. I won have won three titles because I won in ERC3, then ERC1 twice. We started in ERC because we won the Beca Júnior title from the Spanish federation [in 2017] and the prize was an ERC programme. Step by step, we win overall. Winning [in Azores in 2022] was very, very special, it was our first overall victory in the ERC. We saved tyres for the Power Stage to try to attack because we were seven seconds behind Ricard Moura. We attack so much and it was amazing. I remember my family and friends were watching on television, so it was a very special moment, very nice. But it will be difficult to do 400 rallies. I would like, of course, but we will see in the future.”
Motorsport is a life-long passion for ace co-driver Fernández
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How important is the ERC for young drivers?
“Winning the Spanish Junior title gave us the possibility to compete in the ERC with Rallye Team Spain and it was very nice to compete with other young drivers because, for me, the ERC is very good for young drivers because you can win a title with your own team, your own mechanics. It’s very nice and for that reason there is a lot of drivers competing. Brands like fuel brands and tyre brands can compete against each other and this is a good point for sponsors and support for the drivers. The ERC is like a family but when you put the helmet on you forget everything and are flat out in all the special stages. But the people are very nice, especially the organisers who work very well. You can see this year Rally Islas Canarias was going to WRC, so it means the events are very, very good.”
Llarena Racing is new to the international arena in 2025
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What do you do when you are not co-driving in the ERC?
“I’m a third-generation farmer. We have a dairy farm in the north of Spain. We have 200 cows and produce milk. I really love my job, I love to work in my own business, it’s good for the future to have a plan B because rallies is a good job but I prefer to have other options. I also have a Ford Focus gravel car, Group N, that I drive only for fun. I try to do more rallies close to where I live but it’s very difficult with my calendar to try to find free time. We also create Llarena Racing this year to think in the future to do something for the future. I do the same things like a co-driver, logistic, manage the team. We want to help and support other drivers with our experience in international championships.”
Rally di Roma Capitale was Fernández’s 200th outing as a co-driver
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“Carlos del Barrio. He’s the best co-driver and I’m very lucky because he’s also my friend. I love how he reads the pacenotes, he’s very calm, he’s a good person. For me I think he’s the best co-driver and the best crew for sure is Jesús Puras and Carlos del Barrio, they inspire me a lot. I also met Geri Haliwell from Spice Girls during the FIA Prize Giving in 2021. We only speak for two minutes but she was very nice with me.”