Gilmour makes history in US
New Zealand’s Emma Gilmour will compete in a new two-car team with world-champion driver Rhys Millen over 10 Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) rounds in the US this year. Hyundai Motor America made the announcement this morning in conjunction with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) a day before the GRC pre-season demonstration day in Lake Elsinore, California. Not only will Gilmour be the first woman to rip up the GRC’s dirt-and-tarmac-based circuits, the Dunedin-based driver will also be one of the two first women to race in June’s X-Games. “It really is a dream come true,” she says. “Going to America to race in a professional series with a team like Rhys Millen Racing is hard to believe. I have to keep pinching myself to remind myself it isn’t a dream. “I’m so excited about the opportunity and challenge of learning rallycross, and it’s privilege to be the first female driver in the series. To also be joining Australia’s Sarah Burgess in making history as the first female X-Games rally car drivers is a great honour.” Gilmour will be driving a highly tuned and fully race-prepared RMR Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Its engine generates more than 600hp from its four-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled powerplant.
The GRC circuit at each venue features tight turns and a large jump where the cars become airborne. Gilmour’s 2014 GRC season will kick off in Barbados at the BBC Top Gear Festival on May 17.
She says: “I’ve never raced in rallycross, but I’ve had experience with high horsepower cars with my 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 the GRC will present some exciting challenges to test my skills.” Gilmour feels she “couldn’t be more honoured” to be teamed up with Rhys. The New Zealand-born son of famed rally and off-road racer Rod Millen, Rhys’ accolades include 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb champion, 2008 Formula Drift World Champion and 2005 USA Drifting Champion. “Rhys is one of the most sought-after performance drivers, known worldwide for his car control skills and – combined with my years of rally experience – we are a perfect fit for the team,” says Gilmour. After finishing second in the manufacturers’ points and third in drivers’ points ladders in the 2012 GRC, Rhys says this season holds even more promise for the Hyundai/RMR team. “The Veloster is perfect for GRC by giving enthusiasts a glimpse of affordable, fun-to-drive production cars exploited to their race potential in an action-packed series,” he says. “Even more, I’m especially proud to have Emma as a team-mate.” Along with her 10-race international schedule, Gilmour is still looking forward to competing in the six-round New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), in the home-built Suzuki she debuted last season. “It’s going to be a busy year so I will be relying on a great team in New Zealand to support me in this campaign.”
