Emma Gilmour had the full cross-country rally experience over 500km of varied terrain in the Portugal Baja. Mechanical issues derailed a potential class result but Gilmour came away from the four-stage, two-day event addicted to the challenge and hoping to go back for more.
Alyssa Clapperton was representing New Zealand in the inaugural Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) transtasman Women's Challenge at Hampton Downs race track south of Auckland on Saturday. Although she finished runner-up to Australian Charlotte Poynting, Clapperton thoroughly enjoyed their tussle in the pint-sized Aussie Race Cars (ARC).
Gilmour shared her Portugal rally with South African co-driver Sandra Labuscagne in a Polaris off-road buggy as part of the French Xtreme Plus Team.
``This is my third cross-country event in my third different car so it has been great to get experience of different events in varied vehicles. I really enjoyed Portugal, as the terrain was really challenging and quite unlike the other events we've done,'' Gilmour said.
After the first day, Gilmour was second in her class and 34th overall. The stages featured varied terrain - fast gravel roads like home, farm paddocks, narrow forestry tracks and some rough rutted sections, she said.
The second day began positively and Gilmour and Labuscagne were improving after the opening 173km stage.
Then, on the final 211km, stage they were flying, up until the point where their car's driveshaft and gearbox broke.
``We were 13th quickest in stage and on track for top 20 finish overall and a class win. We replaced the driveshaft but had to crawl out the last 70km. Our power steering also broke when another car hit us, so it was an achievement to just get to the finish when it all turned to custard.''
She said cross-country rallying was very addictive and she and Labuscagne hoped to contest more FIA events in the future.
Clapperton achieved her goal of finishing in the top 20 of the 30-ARC field in two of her four races and had fun racing the ARC car owned by Hampton Downs and Highlands Motorsport Park's circuit owner Tony Quinn.
``I've really enjoyed the weekend's racing. I think we did well considering I had only done one hour's testing prior to the weekend and had not been on the new extension of Hampton Downs. These are some of Australia's best young drivers and to be matching some of their times and finishing in the top 20 twice was a huge achievement for me,'' Clapperton said.
