MEET EMMA GILMOUR - MITO AMBASSADOR
MITO is delighted to partner with Emma Gilmour as one of our MITO Ambassadors! Emma is a very accomplished Rally Driver and public figure in New Zealand and across the globe.
Outside of racing, Emma runs a Suzuki car dealership in Dunedin, and is a big advocate for women in the trades, demonstrating how far a job in the automotive industry can take you.
In partnership with Paddon Rallysport, MITO provides our automotive apprentices the opportunity to join MITO Ambassadors Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour on their rally crews throughout New Zealand. Learn more and apply for the next event here.
PARTNERSHIP WITH MITO
Emma joined the MITO team with the goal of increasing interest in automotive trades for young people and women in New Zealand.
"I'm really excited about becoming a MITO Ambassador. Cars have been my life. I haven't known any different since a very young age. My dad's a mechanic and my grandad also. I love the automotive trade. I just think it's such a fun and exciting career that people can have and I'm really excited to be able to showcase that and hopefully educate, help and inspire more people to take up the trade!"
MITO works with Emma to engage women and young people who are interested in automotives and want to pursue a career in the industry.
Stay up-to-date on MITO's Facebook and Instagram to see all that we are doing together with Emma.
BIO
Emma grew up in Dunedin where her father and grandfather were mechanics so from a young age she was exposed to the industry, helping her dad build go-karts and seeing the inside and outside of vehicles.
Emma competed in horse-riding for most of her early years but when she gave it a go in her 20's, rally driving became her main love and vocation. From there, she just exploded!
In 2008, teaming up with UK co-driver Claire Mole, Emma finished 16th Overall in the WRC Rally of New Zealand, and in 2009 the pair achieved Second Overall in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
In 2014, as a factory driver for the Hyundai USA Global Rally Cross team, she reached the finals in Las Vegas and the semi-finals of the X Games.
In 2015, Emma won the prestigious FIA Women in Motorsport and QMMF Cross Country Selection.
In 2016, she became the first woman to win a round of the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) when she claimed victory in the Rally of Canterbury. Emma was runner-up in the NZRC over three consecutive years against world-class competition.
In 2022, Emma Gilmour became the first ever woman driver for McLaren Racing. In a spectacular debut season for McLaren XE in the Extreme E all electric series, the team achieved their first ever podium and fifth place in the series. The following year Emma and team-mate Tanner Foust achieved a podium at McLaren’s home event in Scotland, in another eventful and competitive season of extreme racing.
Emma is campaigning the 2025 New Zealand Rally Championship in her Vantage Windows & Doors WRC2 C3 rally car with Australian co-driver Ben Searcy, so stay tuned on our Facebook and Instagram to follow the action!