The Motorsport Australia Rally Championship’s (ARC) pre-season test day at Bagshot earlier this month was a great opportunity for drivers to get some valuable seat time ahead of next month’s season opener in Canberra.

 

While most were focused on fine tuning their cars for the Netier National Capital Rally, young Taylor Gill spent the event sponging as much information as he could from some of the stars of the sport, including 2019 ARC champion Harry Bates.

 

“I went for a ride with Harry and it was good to see what the benchmark in Australia is. It was quite an experience,” Gill said.

 

“He gave me a few tips while driving and we had some scary moments, although I am sure he didn’t find it scary. It was quite cool and it’s good to go on a ride like that because you get to learn quite a lot.”

 

At just 16-years-old, Gill has a wealth of experience behind the wheel already, having spent the previous four years competing in motorkhanas and khanacrosses after a solid seven-year karting stint.

 

Now, with just over a month remaining until the first round and Gill experiencing his first ARC duties, the New South Wales based teenager is excited for what’s to come in 2020.

 

“There is no better feeling than driving a rally car,” Gill said.

 

“You’re not doing the same thing over and over again. It’s exciting with pace notes because you don’t know what the roads will be.

 

“We’re looking at doing a couple of ARC events this year, mainly Canberra and Perth, as well as the full New South Wales State Championship.”