Emma Gilmour has no fears about the roads she will race over in this weekend's International Rally of Whangarei, despite the fact that two years ago they were less than kind. "Some people will remember my big crash on this event two years ago, but don't think for a moment thatmeans 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 June 5-7 rally is the only event which counts towards both the Asia-Pacific and New Zealand championships. Gilmour has finished third in all three rallies she has contested this year. Fans used to Gilmour competing in her Vantage Aluminium Joinery-liveried Subaru Impreza WRX sedan will have to adjust to seeing her in a different car. She and Motor Image Racing team-mate Cody Crocker are driving the latest-model WRX STI hatchback 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 co-driver this weekend is Australian Rhianon Smyth, who partnered her to third in the Asia-Pacific series opener in Queensland. Top seed for the Whangarei Rally is defending Asia-Pacific champion Crocker, followed by former Asia-Pacific champion Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan) and Hayden Paddon. Gilmour starts fifth, behind former Indian champion Gaurav Gill. Comprising 280km of high-speed special stages, Rally Whangarei opens with a ceremonial start tomorrow night. Saturday's opening leg runs over eight stages, as does Sunday's leg.NZPA
