Impressive Whangarei rally drive secures third in NZRC for Gilmour

To cap off an incredible season for New Zealand’s fastest female rally driver, Emma Gilmour has finished third overall in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC).

She was elated, having given it her absolute all – aided by top co-driver Malcolm Read – to finish the 260 kilometres of 18 special stages at the International Rally of Whangarei in fourth place.

Dylan Thomson edged her out of third for the event by just 12.2 seconds, but Emma’s points tally for the two days was high enough to secure the third podium spot for the NZRC 2024 in her Vantage Windows & Doors WRC2 C3 rally car.

“I am so stoked to get third in the championship. It’s been amazing having Malcolm on the pace notes and awesome having the Paddon Rallysport team running the car, with mechanic Ollie Talbott doing a stellar job keeping the C3 running faultlessly all season. This is the first time I’ve completed a championship in a long time and I’m very happy to cap off a great weekend on the podium for the season,” Emma says.

The last time she finished on the championship podium was 2012, when she was runner-up for the third consecutive year.

Emma’s campaign began on Saturday morning with a slight wobble when she had a spin early on. Quickly regaining ground, she went on to finish seven of the day’s 10 stages in the top five.

Her bid for a championship podium became more secure when Zeal Jones, with whom she was tied in fourth place on points before this weekend, slid off the road on the second stage. The third-placed driver entering the event, Robbie Stokes, then crashed out on the third stage, retiring for the remainder of the rally.

A third-place finish for Emma on the first day meant she needed to keep the C3 steady over today’s eight stages but also keep driving at full pace to fight for the event podium. A measured start saw her and Malcolm clock seventh-fastest times in the opening two stages before they went for it, finishing in the top five for the final five stages.

“We were still pushing hard for that third place today and we came very close to Dylan. Congratulations to him and to runner-up Ben Hunt on his third NZRC title and also to Hayden Paddon for the rally win today.

“A huge thank you to my sponsors for your continued support. After all the years we’ve been together, it feels so good to repay your faith in me. Thanks also to my partner Gary, who helped me regain my health and strength after my Extreme E accident.”

The fast, cambered roads of the north doubled as the final round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Emma and Malcolm finished third, as Dylan was not entered in this international competition.

Emma Gilmour thanks the following sponsors for their support: Vantage Windows & Doors, Gilmour Motors Suzuki, Dura-Seal, Dayle ITM, MITO, Suzuki New Zealand, Castrol NZ, Sparco, Allport Motorsports, Custom Signs, NGK, Webdesign, Pure Sports Nutrition and Body Synergy Gym.