Emma Relishes Whangarei Rally Challenge
Emma Gilmour is aiming to improve on her current third placings in the Asia-Pacific and New Zealand rally championships
on this weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei.
The 5-7 June Northland event is unique for Gilmour as it is the only rally that counts towards both championships. The
29-year old Kiwi driver is not fazed by this making the event doubly important to her; rather, her love of roads over
which the rally is contested is such that she counts it as a major plus.
“Some people will remember my big crash on this event two years ago, but don’t think for a moment that means I don’t
enjoy the Rally Whangarei roads,” says Gilmour. “Many of them were used on New Zealand’s round of the WRC in the past,
and so are internationally rated as some of the best rally roads in the world. That reputation is fully deserved.”
“The fact that my performance over the weekend will have a bearing on my fortunes in two championships simply adds to my
motivation to continue scoring podium results and stage wins. Having finished third in the points on all three rallies I
have contested so far this year, my personal goal this weekend is to do even better.
Local fans used to Gilmour competing in her Vantage Aluminium Joinery-liveried Subaru Impreza WRX sedan will have to
adjust to seeing her competing in a different car this weekend; it’s one of the latest-model WRX STI hatchbacks that she
and Motor Image Racing team mate Cody Crocker are driving in the Asia-Pacific series.
“Compared to my own car, it has a more even power delivery across the rev range,” she explains. “It also handles a
little better on fast, smooth roads like those which form the majority of the Whangarei Rally route.”
Gilmour’s own car will be used on the Whangarei Rally, by Australian Brendan Reeves.
ENDS