Gill was beaten to second place in the JWRC season finale in Central Europe by a slender margin of just 1.6 seconds by Sweden’s Mille Johansson. Gill was still leading the rally by seven seconds before the final special stage, but the Swede produced a stunning charge, took the rally win and secured the championship.
Johansson was rewarded for the title with a four-rally WRC programme next season in a Ford Rally2 car, while Gill was left empty-handed. Gill, who lives in Vääksy, Finland, admits that losing the championship was a major blow. His programme for next season is anything but certain.
“It hasn’t been easy since Central Europe. It’s been about trying to figure out a plan for next year and what that could realistically look like. We haven’t given up on the dream of racing in the World Rally Championship, but things definitely got tougher after missing out on the Junior WRC title,” Gill says on the WRC website.
“When you’re effectively starting from zero, it’s difficult even to get a programme off the ground. So it’s about opening opportunities, building sponsors and slowly putting together enough budget to get some rallies done next year.”
The Australian driver is trying to put together a three-rally programme. The aim is to compete in the WRC2 category with a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car in the World Championship rallies of Sweden, Croatia and Finland.
“Monday to Wednesday I work as a mechanic in a regular repair shop. Thursdays, Fridays and evenings are spent on the phone, sending emails, building proposals and chasing sponsors. It’s busy, but now that this opportunity is there, we’re pushing absolutely flat out to make it happen,” Gill sums up.
“The plan would be three rallies. They’re all rallies I know well – ones I’ve done twice before, and I’ve won [my category on] all three once already. There’s a method to it too: snow, gravel and Tarmac, to show speed on different surfaces.”
Gill stresses that it is important to get to compete next year, as the WRC regulations will change for the 2027 season. At that point, more opportunities may open up for young drivers, so it is important to keep his name in the conversation.
“The jump from Rally3 to Rally2 is huge. Damage costs escalate very quickly, so that’s something we’ll have to manage carefully. That’s a big reason why we’re pushing so hard to make something happen next year. We want to stay current and put ourselves in the shop window for 2027. We’re not expecting to fight for the WRC2 title with such a limited programme, but a strong impression can open doors,” Gill explains.
“We are pretty much over the line with the budget to start in Sweden. Beyond that, things are still pretty up in the air. Croatia comes quickly, and realistically there’s still a fair chunk to find.”
