Aussie Taylor Gill confirmed for WRC Junior season

Taylor Gill and co-driver Dan Brkic have been confirmed for the WRC Junior Championship in 2024 by the FIA Rally Star program after a great debut season on European soil.

It’s a huge moment for a young Aussie’s to make the leap into the World Rally Championship, with the extensive program giving them the chance to stretch it out for a number of years in the world’s premier rally series.

Their first round is also one of the most immense challenges in world rally, with the Round 2 WRC Rally Sweden the only dedicated snow and ice rally, which is arguably the fastest rally on the program with drivers using special tyres whilst manipulating the snow banks to gather speed.

“To be honest, three to four years ago I’d have never thought to have the opportunity to compete in Europe, let alone live there and to be in such a well promoted and funded program to be really doing it properly,” a very happy Taylor Gill said.

“I remember being about 15 and researching the WRC Junior Championship when I was in school, so to think I’ll be on that start line in Sweden next year is just amazing.”

Gill and Brkic put the foot down in 2023 to perform brilliantly in the FIA Rally Star season

Gill and his co-driver Brkic faced a huge challenge when they moved to Europe after the Newcastle born driver and mechanic was the youngest ever winner of the ARC Production Cup in 2022.

After winning the pacific component of the FIA Rally Star search, Gill managed to take three wins in six rallies, with himself and Estonian Romet Jurgenson (2 wins) pushing each other to the max.

His wins came at San Marino, Estonia (Saaremaa island), and in Germany, with the 20-year-old showing great and gradual improvement in tough conditions on both asphalt and gravel.

They were one of four selections out of six young drivers for next year’s five round program to drive the Ford Fiesta Rally3 car. And next year, those four will be cut down to three for a second year in 2025, with the overall Junior winner of 2024 to also get four fully funded WRC2 drives in 2025.

At 20-years-old, Gill will contest the 2024 WRC Junior seaoson in a huge career leap

His co-driver Brkic has also gone from strength to strength this year, with the pair having worked hard on every facet of their development in the fantastic program.

“Everything from the preparation, pace notes, to the actual driving…I feel we’ve come a long way as a team,” Brkic said.

“Personally, It was a huge step as a co-driver and moving into the world’s premier championship is a big move in my own career.

“We’re both 100% committed and it’s only going to get more difficult from here, and we can’t wait to progress and take on that challenge.”

Brkic (centre) has a fantastic opportunity alongside Gill to take his co-driving career to the next level

2024 WRC Junior calendar

Rally Sweden – February 15-18

Rally Croatia – April 18-21

Rally Italy Sardinia – May 30-June 2

Rally Finland – August 1-4

Acropolis Rally Greece – September 5-8