Gilmour eyes glory at rally double-header
Emma Gilmour has enlisted a fellow Kiwi as she aims to score a spot on the podium at both the City of Auckland Rally and the Repco Battle of Jacks Ridge Rallysprint.
After more than a decade of working with Australian co-drivers, she has decided to call upon a fellow New Zealander for the events in Auckland on November 14 and 15.
The Dunedin driver has enlisted Cambridge-based Malcolm Peden, who has co-driving experience in New Zealand and in Asia Pacific Rally Championship events, to call her pace notes.
The pair have already taken runner-up positions in two rallysprints – in Whanganui and Matamata - and notched up a third in the Rally Bay of Plenty in October.
Gilmour and Peden will tackle the 121km, eight-stage City of Auckland Rally on Saturday, November 14, after completing a two-pass recce in the week before the event.
The final stage of the rally is Jacks Ridge, in Whitford, which was purpose-built as a 6.3km power-stage for the 2020 WRC Rally New Zealand that was cancelled in May because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
They will be back in action at Jacks Ridge on Sunday, November 15, for a 2.2km jump-filled, high-speed rallysprint.
Gilmour has Choice Performance in Pukekohe looking after her Vantage Windows and Doors Suzuki Swift AP4 car and she is looking forward to being back in action again.
“It’s been great to be back driving the Suzuki,” she says. “I’m really enjoying it and we are having a good run this year. Being back on the podium last month has given me a taste for it again and that's where we want to be this weekend.
“It's going to be very special to compete on a purpose-built track in New Zealand's biggest city. The last time anything came close to Jacks Ridge was the Manukau WRC super special stage which was run about 15 years ago.
“The entry lists are extremely competitive both days and I can’t wait to compete against all the top national drivers again. This will be the first time this year that we’ve all been at the same event."
Peden says he was excited to receive the call-up to join Gilmour, who he notes is showing “very good pace” this year.
