Gilmour swaps co-driver

Emma Gilmour has had a change of co-driver ahead of the Southern Lights Rally in Southland this week.

The Dunedin driver and car dealer has re-enlisted the services of Australian Ben Searcy for the two-day gravel rally that starts on Friday, June 21.

Gilmour was paired with Palmerston North’s Katrina Renshaw for the opening two rounds of the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) but has decided the time is right for a change in co-driver.

“I want to thank Katrina [Renshaw] for sitting beside me for the first two NZRC rounds but unfortunately we didn't gel as we had hoped to in the car,” says Gilmour. 

“We both know how vital that is, so we made the decision to approach the remainder of the season differently than originally planned. I wish Katrina all the best for her co-driving career.

“I’ve gone back to familiar ground and am pleased that Ben is able to come over from Perth and co-drive for me. He sat with me in 2019 and I’m looking forward to working with him again at the Southern Lights Rally.”

Searcy is an experienced competitor and most recently won the 2023 Asia Pacific Rally Championship as co-driver for Rifat Sungkar, of Indonesia.

The Southern Lights Rally, which uses 150km of roads in Southland and concludes at Teretonga Park Raceway, is based out of Invercargill and was last part of the NZRC calendar in 2004. 

Gilmour and her Vantage Windows & Doors WRC2 C3 are currently fourth in the NZRC, only one point behind third-placed Jack Hawkeswood, and she is hoping to move up the standings after this weekend’s event.