Motorsport: Gilmour ready to attack Whangarei roads

Emma Gilmour has no fears of the roads she will be racing over in this weekend's International Rally of Whangarei, despite the fact that two years ago they were less than kind to her.

"Some people will remember my big crash on this event two years ago, but don't think for a moment that means I don't enjoy the Rally Whangarei roads," Gilmour said.

"Many of them were used on New Zealand's round of the WRC in the past, and so are internationally rated as some of the best rally roads in the world. That reputation is fully deserved."

The rally on June 5-7 is the only event which counts towards both the Asia-Pacific and New Zealand rally championships.

Gilmour has finished third in the points on all three rallies she has contested so far this year.

"My personal goal this weekend is to do even better."

Local fans used to Gilmour competing in her Vantage Aluminium Joinery-liveried Subaru Impreza WRX sedan will have to adjust to seeing her competing in a different car this weekend.

She takes to the road in the latest-model WRX STI hatchback that she and Motor Image Racing team mate Cody Crocker are driving in the Asia-Pacific series.

"Compared to my own car, it has a more even power delivery across the rev range," she said. "It also handles a little better on fast, smooth roads like those which form the majority of the Whangarei Rally route."

Gilmour's own car will be used on the Whangarei Rally by Australian Brendan Reeves.

Gilmour's co-driver this weekend is Australian Rhianon Smyth, who partnered her to third place on the Asia-Pacific series opener in Queensland last month.

"Rhianon has come over to New Zealand early for this event and we have spent a lot of time reviewing my pace notes and in-car video footage from previous years," Gilmour said.

Top seed for the Whangarei Rally has been awarded to defending Asia-Pacific champion Crocker ahead of former Asia-Pacific champion Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan) and defending New Zealand champion Hayden Paddon.

Gilmour starts fifth, behind former Indian champion Gaurav Gill. Richard Mason, the current NZRC leader, is seeded eighth behind the APRC-registered competitors.

Comprising some 280km of high-speed special stages, Rally Whangarei opens with a ceremonial start on Friday evening. Saturday's opening leg runs over eight stages, and Sunday's leg comprises a further eight stages.

- NZPA