Gilmour dares to dream of title push
Dunedin local Emma Gilmour has renewed optimism heading into the 2025 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship season and feels she is long overdue for a good result at home.
Gilmour has struggled with car reliability over the past few years, missed time due to her McLaren works drive and struggled with speed early last year as she got to grips with a new car.
But the second half of the 2024 season showcased the talent that has made her one of the leading drivers of the past 20 years, finishing the season third in the standings.
As she counts down to her home event that has been particularly cruel to the Vantage New Zealand Citroen C3 driver in recent years, Gilmour is daring to dream.
“That would be my dream come true to win my home rally,” Gilmour said. “I couldn’t tell you the last time I was on the podium – I think it was 2012. I was going to be on the podium in 2017, but I got a puncture on the last stage.
“It has been a very long time, and it would be very special.
“As we all know it is a long rally and a tough rally and anything can happen. I am feeling confident and looking forward to it, but you never count your chickens.”
You can see the confidence has returned to Gilmour after a string of good results last year.
“This season has quite a different feel to it – having the whole season in the car versus just one event last year when I started plus just feeling a lot healthier than I was a year ago. I was still really recovering from a concussion,” Gilmour explained.
“Having that consistency with Ben [co-driver Ben Searcy] – we did one event last season but knowing we have a whole season together is awesome. Having that consistency with Malcolm [Read] in the second half of the season was really good.”
Read stepped in to replace Searcy for the final three rounds with Searcy being unavailable but he is locked in for a full campaign in 2025.
Defending champion Ben Hunt starts the season as title favourite but the likes of Robbie Stokes and Gilmour should feel they have reason to like their chances this year.
“Back in my Subaru days I probably had a pretty good shot,” Gilmour said. “In recent years it is definitely my best shot at the title.
“It is always such a challenge when there are not that many of us, so you need that consistency. Anything can happen but I do think we have a good shot at it this year.”
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