Motorsport: Gilmour guaranteed Asia-Pacific podium

Emma Gilmour has guaranteed herself a third place in the AP Rally Championship with a podium in Malaysia. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand driver Emma Gilmour has secured third place overall in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and could still take second, following a solid performance at this weekend's penultimate round in Indonesia.

Gilmour continued her run of podium finishes in the series in Indonesia, powering her Motor Image Racing Team Subaru Impreza STI to third place despite a puncture on Saturday's opening leg and overheating problems on Sunday's final leg.

The rallying was made all the more challenging by an unexpected downpour on Saturday's leg, but the storm clouds ended up having a silver lining for Gilmour.

"I thought I had experienced wet and slippery conditions at the last round in Malaysia, but this was at another level altogether," she said.

"We had wheel spin all the way - in every gear - and plenty of spins and overshoots too, but we did make it to the finish of the day."

Heading for next month's season finale in China, Gilmour still has a chance of making it a championship one-two, with Australian teammate Cody Crocker currently in first place.

To do so, she will have to outscore second-placed Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan) by at least seven points in the event.

- NZPA