"Now I’m balancing my budget while also trying to get as much mileage as I possibly can."We are planning to be at Hoddle Road and all going well the Timaru Rally. After that I’d like to do the Auckland Rally and the Jack’s Ridge Rallysprint.’’ Like all competitors it’s a very different programme than she had originally envisaged for 2020. "We were ready to rally and chase the championship again,’’ said Gilmour. "We had a big off-season getting the car ready to go and hoping to make up for the disappointments of last year. We were able to complete a shakedown just before lockdown.’’
Emma Gilmour is already planning for a big 2021 rally season.
Those events have allowed Gilmour to forge a new co-driver partnership with Mal Peden."It’s been great working with Mal. We were all set for the NZRC, but now we’ve had the chance to start working together at these smaller events. It’s been good in that respect. "And it’s great to see the events that have started running again have been well supported.’’
Emma Gilmour at a test day in her Suzuki Swift Maxi. Photo: Geoff Ridder
"It’s a weird time. We’ve just had a couple of fantastic months but nobody knows what might be coming, so I am focused on that."But I’m also working away towards a New Zealand Rally Championship programme in 2021.’’ The Hoddle Road Rallysprint near Otorohanga uses a 10km former WRC Rally New Zealand stage on Sunday, August 23.
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