New Zealand’s Emma Gilmour will make history as she becomes McLaren Racing’s first female driver and will compete in the Extreme E series in 2022.
Gilmour has two decades of experience in motor racing, including rallying, rallycross, and cross-country rallying. In 2016, she became the first woman to win a New Zealand Rally Championship event.
In 2015, she also won the FIA Women in Motorsport and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation cross-country rally selection.
She will compete in next year’s Extreme E for MacLaren, alongside US driver Tanner Foust. Extreme E is a new racing formula that races electric vehicles in remote parts of the world. It is committed to having a net zero carbon footprint and aims to highlight the impact of climate change.
The announcement that Gilmour would become one of McLaren’s drivers was made during the UN’s climate summit COP26 in the presence of Prince Charles.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be McLaren Racing’s first female driver. Growing up in New Zealand, Bruce McLaren and McLaren Racing are seen as the pinnacles of motorsport,” Gilmour said.
“To be competing in Extreme E next year with McLaren is a special opportunity. The series is a fantastic platform that represents equality and addresses the key issues affecting our planet and society.
“I’m looking to draw on my previous experience in Extreme E alongside all my skills across rally, rallycross and cross-country rallying, that make me well-suited to the sport, to make a positive impact and inspire the next generation of female drivers and engineers. I can’t wait to get started with the team.”
Every car in the Extreme E series has a male and female driver, something that has never been done before at an international level. Australian Molly Taylor won the inaugural Extreme E race in Saudi Arabia during the 2021 season with Johan Kristoffersson.
CEO of McLaren Racing Zak Brown said they were proud to announced Emma Gilmour as its first female driver.
“Emma completes our exciting and competitive driver line-up alongside Tanner Foust for our first season of Extreme E,” Brown said.
“She’s a race winner and has proven herself this year in Extreme E alongside a vast background in competitive off-roading in multiple racing series across the globe.
“It’s fitting that our first female driver originates from New Zealand where our founder Bruce McLaren was from.”