Dunedin local Emma Gilmour has renewed optimism heading into the 2025 New Zealand Rally Championship season and feels long overdue for a good result at home.
Gilmour has struggled with car reliability over the past few years, missing time due to her McLaren work drive and struggling 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. She finished 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 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 that Gilmour’s confidence has returned 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, as Searcy was unavailable. However, 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 has definitely been 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.”
Find out more about the championship by visiting www.nzrallychamps.co.nz.
2025 New Zealand Rally Championship:
- Apr 5-6 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally
- May 10 South Canterbury Hydraulics Rally South Canterbury
- Jun 1 Rally Canterbury
- Aug 23 Rally Coromandel
- Oct 11 Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty
- Nov 7-9 International Rally Whangarei
Header Image: Tayler Burke
