Gilmour Delighted To Win Top Rally Award

Gilmour Delighted To Win Top Rally Award

“Stunned, delighted and honoured,” is how New Zealand’s top woman rally driver Emma Gilmour describes her feelings after winning the country’s most prestigious rallying award, the Rally Founders Trophy.

The Rally Founders Trophy is awarded annually to the rally driver who not only performs with distinction, but who also demonstrates a sportsmanlike attitude and is a worthy ambassador for the sport.

Gilmour, along with reigning national rally champion Richard Mason and Kiwi 2 champion Dave Strong, was one of three finalists for the trophy, which was awarded on Saturday night at the national motor sport awards dinner in Auckland.

Announcing Gilmour as the winner, Motorsport New Zealand President Steven Kennedy described her as an “outstanding young driver who competes tenaciously and fearlessly in a predominantly male sport.”

“I feel really hugely honoured, especially to win the Trophy so early in my driving career,” says Gilmour. “Among the past winners are many of the great names of Kiwi rallying, including Possum Bourne, who won it four times in his life.”

“Possum was, and is, someone we all look up to, and to have my name on the same trophy as him makes me feel quite humble.”

Gilmour, who is currently third in the national rally championship, says the award gives her an extra boost as she prepares to compete in her Vantage Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI on the Rotorua International Rally at the end of the month.

ENDS

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