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TAYLOR GILL WINS FIA RALLY STAR REGIONALS

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 13 October 2022

Taylor Gill has won the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final in India, competing against 40 drivers to take out the three day competition.

The FIA Rally Star is designed as a global talent fostering programme, with the regional final cut down to 13 drivers after two days of competition and testing, which then features one final day of testing in the Pirelli equipped TN5 Cross Cars.

In winning the prestigious competition, Gill will now represent the Asia Pacific region next season in the international leg of the Rally Star Training Season, featuring six competitors and six rallies in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 car (WRC3 spec).

The six world finalists will be competing for four contracts, which then give access into the FIA Junior WRC Championship, the first step into the top level of the WRC categories.

In addition to the FIA training contract, Gill will also receive physical and intellectual assessment, along with driver coaching and testing; all in preparation to provide him the skills required to compete for a career in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

All competitors were behind the wheel of a TN5, and recieved tutelage for WRC star Thierry Neuville

The 18 year-old New South Welshman described winning the programme as “pretty cool,”  and gives an insight into the pressurised environment amongst the spate of young talent.

“Obviously everyone goes for it, but you don’t expect to get it, so I’m over the moon,” Said Gill.

“For sure, there was a lot of pressure, especially to go out and do another run today (Wednesday), I couldn’t make any mistakes, that’s what I tried to do, so I’m super happy.”

Gill made the final cut from the field of 40 where he was given training by WRC front runner Thierry Neuville. 

Featuring a mixture of gravel and asphalt surfaces, the 3.5 km course, Gill proved one of the fastest to win over the five-judge jury, with four other Australians also competing on the final day.

He now joins the other three qualifiers, Romet Jurgenson from Estonia, Abdullah Al Tawqi of Oman, and South African Max Smart as regional winners, with the north and South American finals to be decided early next year.

Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca, also praised Gill for his triumph, highlighting the immense field of young talent coming out of the country.

“On behalf of everyone at Motorsport Australia, we congratulate Taylor for winning this challenging program, which comes with an amazing opportunity to climb the rally development pathway,” Arocca said.

“We also wish to acknowledge and thank the five other Australians who did a fantastic job in being selected for the program and their performances in India – four of which joined Taylor in the final.

“To have Taylor and his fellow Aussies do well in this competition, in addition to the six Australians making it to the top six at last month’s Ferrari Driver Academy, highlights the positive development opportunities our future stars are able to access here in Australia.”

Gill will next contest the Adelaide Hills Rally in the penultimate ARC round on October 21-23, where he sits 11th after three outings.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

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