Meet one of the world's fastest female rally drivers
Meet Emma Gilmour, one of the most successful female rally drivers out there...
"I love driving a car as fast as possible on a closed road with no oncoming traffic or distractions - there’s no feeling quite like it!" Emma Gilmour, one of the world's fastest female rally drivers, tells me.
"Add into the challenge of gravel and slippery surfaces and the feeling of dancing a car through acceleration and braking is unbeatable..."
New Zealand-born Emma Gilmour made her rally debut in 2002 at the Targa Bambina. Since then, she has been impressing with her skill and determination to take on some of the toughest rally stages in the world.
Through competing in FIA (the International Governing body for Motorsport) sanctioned events like the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, she has been able to net some excellent results while running her very own car dealership.
Photo via Emma
In 2009, she finished second in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and has been recognised as the 'top female rally driver' at World Rally Championship events.
"I started co-driving for my sister, and then I finally had a go at driving and was hooked," she says."I think people are still surprised when they find out my passion. I think it’s regarded as a dangerous sport, but the horse riding I did before motorsport is much more dangerous.
"Our cars are built very safe and we take a lot of safety precautions. Driving every day is probably more risky!"
Emma has lots of brilliant motorsport memories and she has so "too many great rallies to choose from". However, the WRC Finland will always hold a place close to her heart for "it's truly special because of the nature of the roads and the passionate spectators".
She competed in the Finnish event in 2006, where her and Claire Mole won stages in the Ford Fiesta - it was also the first event that they had ever competed in together.
"It was a very special event and I really hope to compete there again in the future," she says.
The rally driver also regards desert racing as a favourite of hers, especially competing in Qatar, a place far from her home on the other side of the world.
"Desert racing in Qatar is has to be a highlight," she says. "It was hugely challenging and so different to what I normally do. I can't not mention doing the X Games in America as part of the Red Bull Global Rallycross series as a fantastic moment too. It was also hugely special."
Credit: Phil Walter
But, like with all sports, rallying can have a downside too. The engineering that goes into the cars is complex and a simple fault can spell out disaster for a competitor.
"Having to rely on a mechanical object to show your true ability is tough," she says. "It can be so heartbreaking to be having a great event and then for something to break on your car."
Emma also points out that the smallest of mistakes can lead to big repercussions, as you can pay a "big price for making a tiny error".
Aside from this, Emma is adamant that women can be as competitive as men when it comes to rallying - Emma herself is a great example of this. "We need more women starting out in motorsport," she says.
Despite being in the rallying game for over a decade and a half, she's certain that there'll be lots more motorsport adventures to come.
"I still want to compete in the WRC again - ideally in an R5 car," she says. "I know I am a much better driver than the last time I competed in the WRC."
This year she has been one of only two women competing in the New Zealand Rally Championship, where she is currently sixth in the standings with one weekend to go.
We wish Emma the best of luck!
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Comments (30)
I`m glad for her, but you forgot the Queen of the Nurburgring right? Sabine Schmitz
I’ll have to see if I can contact her for an interview!
Please do!
Man I sure would like to ride along her on the nurb even for one day, she's undoubtely the queen.
What a sexist and ridiculous piece! Do people write "Hamilton the fastest male F1 driver..." Gender has no place in Motorsport. Nor should colour, faith, height, weight or disability... there is no need to state the obvious, or is it that this woman is not as fast as the men and her only claim to fame is to play her own sexist gender card. Compete on equal terms.
It’s about promoting women to encourage the next generation of those in motorsport. There needs to be female role models out there for little girls to look up to. It’s a celebration of talent.
You are fundamentally wrong. Your view causes and reinforces sexism. There is no difference in Motorsport between genders, colours, faiths, heights, weights etc etc - it's all about being the quickest and nothing less. Nothing else...
Read moreShe's quick. Great article🤘🏻
Thanks, Brian
Good to see greater numbers of women rising to the top of motorsport. Been a good year for it with Ana Carrasco taking the 2018 WSBK supersport 300 (motorcycle racing) championship - first time a woman has ever won a world motorcycle racing title. That's solid progress. But the thing I always want to know in interviews like this, irrespective of the driver's gender, is how they first got the opportunity to learn to be fast. I always tend to suspect that you need some heavy-duty financial backing and input from your parents; motorsport is so expensive, and unless you demonstrate the skills nobody's going to hand you the keys to a WRC car - but how do you get to that point in the first place? And you have to start young. Take Lewis Hamilton for example; I mean, all respect to the guy, but his father created opportunities for him from the youngest age that most of us would never be able to hope for. I'm not saying that means it's easy, but how many are there who dream of a chance compared to those that actually get to the point where they can prove themselves? None of that implies any disrespect to Emma Gilmour's achievements. Just saying.
I appreciate the comment but this piece is about Emma and her achievements, not about financial backgrounds.
Wow she’s a female driving a rally car. So wasn’t Michèle Mouton. Keep the gender/PC baloney out of Motorsports.
Yuh. W series is good but they are segregating women too at the same time. Dunno