Gilmour ends year on a high in Las Vegas

Emma Gilmour ended her début season in Red Bull Global Rallycross in the best possible way this week with career high qualifying and finishing positions.


The New Zealander qualified in eighth, beating her previous best qualifying result of tenth at the fourth round of the season in New York.

Gearbox issues for her Hyundai Veloster Turbo in the heats, followed by "mass carnage" in her semi final which saw her retire with broken suspension didn't deter the New Zealand Rally Championship front runner who went onto advance into the final for the first time in her short Red Bull GRC career via the LCQ.

In the final, Gilmour got the perfect start, but that would be fruitless with the race being red flagged as a result of a pile up at the first turn.

Second time around the race got under way cleanly and while race winner Ken Block and championship winner Joni Wiman stole the headlines, Gilmour went onto secure the best finish of her of the season with a strong seventh.

"I’m so happy; it was such a perfect way to finish the season. Everyone was so excited for me to make the final and I had heaps of fans cheering me on from the stands" Emma said afterwards.

With the season now wrapped up, attention now turns to next year and Gilmour is looking to return to Red Bull GRC to continue to move up the field.

"I have improved steadily over the season to the point where my speed has been noticed, which is encouraging." she said. "I really want to come back next year and am currently looking for a drive, so hopefully we can make that happen".




Images: Alison Padron, Red Bull Content Pool, Red Bull GRC, Matt Kalish