Gilmour primed for full-on tilt at 2024 NZRC
Gilmour will contest her first full NZRC campaign since 2018 and is hoping the stars are aligning for her to win a break-through title.
One of the more experienced campaigners in the field, Gilmour has fashioned an outstanding record during her time competing in the national championship and should feature prominently this season as she campaigns her Vantage Citroen C5.
With a proven car, a new and exciting co-driver pairing in the form of Katrina Renshaw and a schedule that doesn’t clash this year, Gilmour is daring to dream.
“Looking forward to the championship – it will be my first full championship since 2018 so looking forward to that,” she said.
“I have really done only one rally in my Citroen so looking forward to doing more events in that.
“Katrina and I haven’t done a rally together yet, but we did the rally sprint the other weekend and really excited to be doing a full season with her as well.
“I have been really impressed with her so far and I think we will be a really good team.”
With reigning national champion and defending Otago Rally champion Hayden Paddon not able to compete next week due to a clash with his European Rally Championship commitments, the door has been left open for the likes of Gilmour and the other leading domestic contenders.
It means Gilmour and co will have the potential for a massive head start on New Zealand’s only full professional driver and it gives the Dunedin local a serious shot at winning her home event.
“It gives us all a chance with Hayden not being at Otago,” Gilmour admitted. “The 10-time winner not being at the event is exciting for the rest of us.
“I love the Otago Rally and it is definitely one I would love to win but I don’t underestimate that everyone else does as well.
“It is always a tough event and looking forward to it and looking forward to getting the championship underway again.”
The Otago Rally begins with a ceremonial opening in the Octagon in central Dunedin next Friday night before two days of stages south and west of the city.
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