Emma Gilmour, one of New Zealand’s most seasoned rally drivers, is set to compete in a round of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) later this year.
A staple in the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) since the mid-2000s, Gilmour built her reputation behind the wheel of Subarus during the Group N era before switching to Suzuki machinery under the AP4 ruleset.
More recently, she has campaigned in a Rally2-spec Citroën.
For her Australian outing, Gilmour will drive a Skoda Fabia prepared by the Perth-based Maximum Motorsport outfit.
She’ll take part in Rally Tasmania from November 7–9, joined by experienced Australian co-driver Ben Searcy.
“I feel fortunate to have an on-the-ground knowledgeable team supplying my rally car for this event,” Gilmour said.
“Combined with Ben’s experience rallying in Australia, it will give me a leg up rallying in Tasmania for the first time.”
The Tasmanian rally will serve as the finale to Gilmour’s 2025 season, which also features multiple rallies on home soil.
Before her trip across the Tasman, she’s set to compete in the Ashley Forest Rallysprint on September 20–21, followed by a return to the NZRC at Rally Bay of Plenty on October 11.
“I’m so excited to have such a cool variety of events to round off the 2025 season,” she said.
“Rally Tasmania will be a real highlight, competing against some of Australia’s best drivers and experiencing the Tasmanian stages for the first time.
“It’s a shame to miss the final NZRC round in Whangārei, but the chance to jump into a competitive car with a great team and return to the ARC was too good to pass up.
“Everyone raves about the roads in Tasmania, so I can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about.”
Maximum Motorsport’s Dean Herridge welcomed the Kiwi star to the team.
“Emma is a quality driver with a heap of experience, so we’re excited to see how she enjoys the Skoda and the Tassie roads,” Herridge said.
“It’s fantastic to see her back in the ARC, and she’ll no doubt be a fan favourite and is a great addition to the field.
“Adding another high-calibre international driver like Emma strengthens the entry list and highlights the quality of the ARC.”
The EROAD Australian Rally Championship resumes with the Gippsland Rally on August 22–24, followed by the Adelaide Hills Rally (October 3–5), with Rally Tasmania wrapping up the season in November.
Header Image: Tayler Burke / Shots By TayB
