Taylor Gill ready for Citroën switch in Italian debut

Australian rally star Taylor Gill is primed for a new chapter in his European season as he prepares to make his Italian Challenger Championship debut this weekend at the 62nd Rally Valli Ossolane (June 13–14).

Following a WRC2 performance that turned heads in Croatia in April, Gill and co-driver Dan Brkic were offered the drive as part of a wider Italian campaign for the remainder of the year.

Returning to Europe, they've swapped their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for the beginning of an all-new tarmac assault in a Citroën C3 Rally2.

A successful initial test gave Gill his first taste of the French-built tarmac weapon last weekend, revealing the characteristics of the new car compared to those he has piloted over the last few seasons.

“The test went well, and it was good to try the Citroën on tarmac finally, and it was interesting in general to try a different Rally2 car and see its differences compared to the Yaris,” Gill said after completing the test near Rome.

“The Citroën is a very nimble car, and it feels like a bit of a go-kart. That means it was quite twitchy, which took some getting used to compared to the Yaris, but we got some solid kilometres in the car to come to grips with it.”

Gill and Brkic’s learnings weren’t solely down to the chassis, either. The move to the Citroën for this program also marks a return to a more traditional engine configuration after their European programs have solely been in three-cylinder rally cars since the beginning of 2023.

“It was also some time for us to get used to driving on four cylinders again," Gill added.

"I'm getting a bit used to three cylinders, given I've been in the Fiesta Rally3 and Yaris for the past few years, so it was nice to drive something a little bit smoother and quieter.”

Understanding the sprint nature of Italian rallying leaves the pair no room for hesitation, and with potentially no pre-event testing available before any later rounds this season, Gill and Brkic had to embed themselves quickly within their new team ahead of the recent test.

“We spent two days at the workshop before the test, just going over the car and meeting the team,” Gill explained.

“That time was spent practising wheel changes and setup changes, obviously getting the seats and everything set up for us, and getting the little intricate details of the car organised how we want them.

“The team is quite small, but the guys are really passionate, and they're a good group of guys to work with, so I'm really looking forward to starting the rally with them."

Gill & Brkic tested the car last week.

Set against the stunning alpine backdrop in Italy's Piedmont region, the Rally Valli Ossolane presents a classic European tarmac challenge for the Aussie pair’s return to Italy for the third time, after starts in Sardinia and Rome in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The itinerary features an intense route, comprising 93 competitive kilometres spread across nine special stages near the Italian-Swiss border.

The centrepiece is a 23.85-kilometre test, run twice. Success on this stage will have a big impact on the overall event standings.

“I'm really looking forward to the weekend and getting back onto some Italian tarmac again.

"Our experience at Rally Roma di Capitale last year was very enjoyable, and we're hoping to come to grips with these roads in the north quickly."

Stage one for Gill and Brkic begins early on Sunday morning AEST.

• Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic’s 2026 WRC program is supported by: Ferratum, PowerPlay, Accent Benchtops, FlowTech Australia, Hissi Keskus, Premier Pools, WOLF Sports, Dogbox Oy, Lithiumax, RallySchool Australia, Curiositi, The Oil Warehouse, M31 Consulting, Punkahajun Kilpi Oy, RallySport Magazine, and Ice Cube

• The pair's Italian rallies in 2026 would not be possible without: Pintarally Motorsport, Turbocar Sport, Gruppo Intent, Romagna cavi, Mezzoli Agostino, CLC&C, Officine-at.it, PE.SO., Inventive, M.B. Noleggio ponteggi, Abela design, SyAtec, VSE Service