At just 16-years-old, Taylor Gill has a long career in rally ahead of him.
An avid motorsport fan and competitor, he has a dream of one day competing in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) - the highest level of rally around the world.
While he is some way off reaching that goal, the New South Wales based driver has been making massive inroads, with his efforts last year recognised as his state’s 2019 Burson Future Award recipient earlier this year.
Gill might be yet to make his debut in the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC), an opportunity postponed thanks to the Conronavirus, his success at both club and state level made him a worthy winner.
“It was really cool to win the award because it shows people out there are keeping an eye on me and see the potential I have. It’s definitely a confidence booster,” Gill said.
“It makes me feel good about what I am doing, keeps pushing me to move forward and continue ticking off each small milestone as I progress up the ladder.
“I was a little bit confident in the lead up because I felt my results were pretty good, but I was still surprised when I actually won it.
“There are definitely a few people to thank. First and foremost is my dad. Without him, there is no way I would be where I am now. My mum is also really supportive, my co-driver Peter Harris does a lot for me behind the scenes and the Christian Auto Sports Club and North Shore Sporting Car Club show heaps of support.
“This award is dedicated to everybody, including them, who has helped me get to where I am now and who has showed support throughout the journey thus far.
Photo: Dave Oliver
Gill may only be 16, but his journey has already spanned more than half his life and dates back to 2010 when he first entered motorsport through karting, a discipline he ran in for seven years.
In 2016, he began branching out to khanacrosses and motorkhanas, which complemented his karting career and towards the end of 2017, at just 14 years of age, the teenager’s focus turned to rallysprints and autocrosses – a level he has been running at ever since.
A young talent known for absorbing all feedback and being adaptable to any conditions, Gill was set to make his ARC debut at last year’s Kennards Hire Rally Australia, before the event was cancelled due to bushfires.
With Gill’s ARC debut still on ice until motorsport can return, he remains positive about the future and passionate about the sport and its stars.
“For me, rallying is the best form of motorsport. You are not driving the same piece of road over and over again, it really is machine verses the elements,” Gill said.
“It’s such a challenge and such a reward because rallies are endurance events. The fact you’re driving in a forest with someone telling you directions because you don’t know it off the top of your head is really challenging. It’s just such an interesting sport.
“My ultimate goal is to compete in the WRC and we will work hard at getting experience over the next few years so we can start the process in getting there. Part of that process will include establishing a more concrete plan on the most cost-effective way to get to Europe.
“While I can’t compete in the ARC right now, I have been on the sim and riding my mountain bike every day trying to get a little fitter for when I eventually can compete in real life.
“It’s really cool how Motorsport Australia and the ARC made the Dirt Rally 2.0 virtual competition, which I have done pretty good in. It’s something that is keeping people entertained and interested while the whole Coronavirus situation is going on."