Spraying champagne on the Otago Rally podium today, Emma Gilmour was ecstatic to celebrate claiming the Allcomers victory and third overall in her home event.
She and Australian co-driver Ben Searcy fought long and hard in the Citroën C3 Rally2 against the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) frontrunners over the two-day event and were thrilled to end up on the podium. It has been more than 15 years since Gilmour graced the top three steps at Otago.
“I’m very happy. It’s been a long time coming. I absolutely love this rally, but it’s broken my heart so many times.”
Gilmour has experienced the range of tough breaks at Otago with a top result sliding out of her grasp on everything from the first stage through to the very last stage in the past.
“I have thought I’ve had a podium in the bag so often and then it slips away, so it’s nice to finally have it. To get on the podium is a sweet reward and to have a third outright is amazing,” Gilmour said.
She paid tribute to Searcy’s professionalism calling her pace notes.
“Ben was incredible and did such a great job. He takes care of all the details – big and small, like making sure we had a dust gap to some of the slower cars in front. He really is such an asset to have in the co-driver’s seat.”
Her Paddon Rallysport mechanic Ollie Talbott also deserved plenty of credit for keeping the Citroen running smoothly.
“We were consistent with our pace despite the mud and rain today making the conditions challenging.”
“To all my sponsors thank you. This win and podium are for you and also for all my supporters, family and friends lining the stages over the last two days.”
Gilmour is not contesting the NZRC this year and will compete in select events, such as, the Ashley Forest Rallysprint. She will switch to her Suzuki Swift to contest the remaining rounds of the Deep South Rallysprint Series across Otago and Southland, after winning the opening round at Popotunoa last month.
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