Global Rallycross Drive for Emma Gilmour
Emma Gilmour will compete in the spectacular American based Global Rallycross Championship this year, as part of a two-car team with Rhys Millen, at Rhys Millen Racing (RMR). Emma will contest 10 rounds of the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) across North America, including the X Games in June, driving a Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster Turbo. The four wheel drive, four-cylinder turbocharged Hyundai produces over 600 Horsepower in rallycross spec.
Emma will be the first female driver to compete in the GRC series and will also be one of the two first ladies, to race in the action sports phenomenon, the X-Games, in June. For an elated Emma, it is the pinnacle high of her already successful driving career.
“It really is a dream come true. Going to America to race in a professional series with a professional team like Rhys Millen Racing is hard to believe. I have to keep pinching myself to remind myself it isn’t a dream,” she says.
Emma’s 2014 GRC season will kick-off at the Caribbean island of Barbados at the BBC Top Gear Festival on Saturday, May 17. “I have never raced in Rallycross but I have had experience with high horse power cars with my current Suzuki Swift Maxi rally car and driving Possum Bourne’s former hillclimb World Rally car. I have also done some endurance circuit racing in a left hand drive Porsche GT3, but no doubt the GRC will present some exciting new challenges to test my driving skills.”
Emma feels she “couldn’t be more honoured” to be teamed up with Rhys for the 2014 season. The New Zealand-born son of famed rally and off road racer Rod Millen, Rhys’ accolades include being crowned 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb champion (where he holds seven world records), 2008 Formula Drift World Champion and 2005 USA Drifting Champion.
“Rhys is one of the most sought after performance drivers, known worldwide for his legendary car control skills and combined with my years of successful rally experience, we are a perfect fit for the RMR team effort,” Emma says.
Along with her 10-race international schedule Emma is still looking forward to competing in the six-round New Zealand Rally Championship, in the radical, home-built Suzuki Swift Maxi she debuted last season.
“It’s going to be a really busy year ahead so I will be relying on a great team of people here in NZ to support me in this campaign. As always I am extremely grateful for the backing of my primary sponsors Suzuki and Vantage Aluminium Joinery and the other companies supporting my bid, including Gilmour Motors, Metalman, Supercharge, Castrol, PPG Paint, Pfitzner Performance Gearboxes, Hella, Apparelmaster, Interislander, Rothbury, Dunlop, Rock radio station, Metalspray and Arai helmets. ”
EMMA GILMOUR’S 2014 GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
• May 17-18: Barbados, Top Gear Festival.
• June 7: Austin, X-Games.
• June 21-22: Washington.
• July 19-20: New York.
• July 25-26: Charlotte.
• August 2-3: Detroit.
• August 22-23: Daytona.
• September 19-20: San Pedro.
• September 26-27: Seattle.
• November 5: Las Vegas.
Leave A Comment