Rally driver Emma Gilmour. Photo / Paul Estcourt
New Zealand's fastest woman on dirt, Emma Gilmour, has a chance this weekend at the Wairarapa Rally to become the first woman, anywhere in the world, to win a national domestic rally championship.
In the latest world rally driver-rankings, released on Thursday, Gilmour retained her spot as the world's best
female rally driver.
A win this weekend, at the final round of the New Zealand Rally Championship, will not only consolidate her at the top of the world rankings, but she could also pull the rug from under Dean Sumner.
After five rounds of the NZRC series Sumner has a slender 29-point lead over Gilmour, and with 72 points in total up for grabs there is more than enough room for her to leapfrog him to take the title.
"[The world No 1 ranking is] a nice recognition going into the final round," said Gilmour. "[But] it's really up to Dean to have a less than good weekend. If he has a good weekend like he did in Nelson and finishes second to us he'll still win the title. It's just unfortunate we had a terrible rally last time out."
Gilmour had hoped to take the championship lead at the previous round on the gravel roads in and around Nelson, but a sinus infection and an engine on its last legs put paid to that. However, she managed to fight her way to a third place finish.
"I was sick and the car was sick. We found out later that the crankshaft in the engine was very close to letting go ... We're in with a shot though and will just have to go flat out and win," said Gilmour.
Sumner's points advantage allows him to approach the event tactically, and as long as he either keeps Gilmour behind him or finishes in the top four the title is his.
Rally Wairarapa could see the continuing resurgence of former NZ champion Richard Mason after his second place in Nelson. It's his home event and he'll be tough to beat, as will former champion Chris West.
The rally has 14 special stages totalling 230km. Today's route opens with two new stages east of Carterton and Masterton before heading to stages around Eketahuna. Sunday's stages are around Eketahuna.
