New Zealand’s fastest female rally driver made a pitstop at Timaru Girls’ High School last week.
Emma Gilmour, who was the first female driver to sign for McLaren Racing and the first female driver to have won a Rally New Zealand round, spoke to the school’s senior students about her life and career as part of her Vantage Pitstop programme.
Timaru Girls’ was selected as the lucky school for her to visit in South Canterbury after entering and winning a competition.
Gilmour spoke to the students on topics like making the switch from dreaming of an Olympic equestrian career to rally driving, bouncing back from a horrific crash in Italy 18 months ago while racing for McLaren, building self-belief, navigating your personal journey and setting dreams and goals.
She said she felt very lucky to be able to share her experiences with students around the country.
‘‘It’s a cool opportunity. We had a lot of entries from Timaru Girls’ High to come here and the school has a bit of a soft spot in my heart, because I went to an all-girls school as well.
‘‘I think it’s great for girls to see a role model as well as the opportunities that are out there for them.
‘‘Not necessarily in motorsport but showing your path can change and you don’t have to have it all figured out at school.
‘‘I think there’s that pressure that you need to know where you’re heading and have it all mapped out, but in my case you never know where you’re going to end up.’’
Gilmour said she enjoyed speaking with the TGHS students.
‘‘It was awesome, I really enjoyed the interaction.
‘‘It’s always interesting what questions come out of the audience and what different girls pick up on or are interested in.
‘‘The girls here were an awesome audience and they asked some great questions.’’
Gilmour also competed at the South Canterbury Rally at the weekend and said she always loved travelling to and racing in Timaru.
‘‘I’m from Dunedin, so I like it because it’s nearly a home-type area.
‘‘There’s always fantastic roads and beautiful scenery that we race on and there are lots of mad passionate motorsport fans here.
‘‘I always love coming back.’’
Although she spoke to the students about setting goals and dreams, Gilmour said she still had a few of her own.
‘‘I still want to win the New Zealand title, I’ve been runnerup many a time.
‘‘I’d still love the opportunity to race overseas if that came up but I enjoy what I’m doing and whatever happens, happens.
‘‘I never would have predicted the McLaren opportunity coming when it did in my career.
‘‘I just feel fortunate to be doing it as I can.’’
TGHS deputy principal Logan Callow said it was fantastic to have Emma Gilmour visit the school.
‘‘It’s always good to have people from the community come in and people that have done really well in their field.
‘‘I think particularly having a successful woman speaking to the females at this school makes thing resound a wee bit more than perhaps if it was someone else coming in.
‘‘Her giving up the time is fantastic and it’s great to see that she’s supportive of our girls and their dreams and hopes and passions.’’
