Thrilling final day sees Gill clinch second in JWRC

Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic have finished a sensational second in the 2025 Junior World Rally Championship after a thrilling final day.

After four days of the tarmac Central European Rally that saw the battle for the title see-sawing this way and that, it all came down to the final stage on Sunday afternoon.

Having already recovered from the loss of a minute after puncturing a rear tyre on the opening night, Gill had fought his way back into the lead after a string of brilliant stage times.

Alongside co-driver Brkic, they were the class crew on both the Friday and Saturday legs, taking several crucial stage win bonus points along the way.

“After the puncture on SS2, we had some fighting back to do, and I was really pleased with how we were able to lift the speed,” Gill explained.

“The pace this weekend from the JWRC crews was incredible – much faster than these cars are designed to be driven.

“Being in a winner-takes-all fight with Mille (Johansson) and Ali (Turkkan) was amazing, and for it to all come down to the wire really showed how close we were at the top of the JWRC this season.”

It all came down to the final test, though, and despite heading into the stage with a seven-second advantage, it was all still to play for on the 26.52-kilometre test.

Based on the double points finale, the 21-year-old Australian had to remain ahead, and pushed his Ford Fiesta Rally3 hard, but gradual time loss and overheating tyres towards the end of the stage proved costly.

As did an out-of-the-box time from young Swedish driver, Mille Johansson, who took the stage win and claimed the coveted JWRC title by a mere 1.6 seconds.

Gill and Brkic were left understandably heartbroken at the last-minute defeat, but can hold their heads high after a stellar season that saw them win two of the five events and finish second in the other three.

“Pretty unbelievable to be honest,” Gill said.

“Of course, we’ve been super consistent and five podiums out of five starts – and our lowest finish was second place. So we can be really proud of that and pat ourselves on the back for that, but ultimately it wasn’t enough in the end.

“It hurts a lot to be honest. My whole life has been building up to this moment, especially the last three years with the Rally Star program. Everything, every day, every meal, every time I go to bed, I’m always thinking and pushing towards the goal of winning this championship this year. So to fall 1.6 seconds short effectively is crazy.”

Messages of support from those in the rally community across Australia and the world were quick to commend the pair on their season.

“You deserved that one, but you have well and truly shown you mean business, and people will take notice of that,” Hayden Paddon commented on social media after the event.

“It may not seem it at the moment, but this will add fuel to the fire for your next steps, and your time will come!”

Reigning Australian Rally Champion, Harry Bates, also added: “Absolutely mega drive all rally and all season boys. You have turned many heads!”

Throughout the season, Gill has continually shown that he is more than a match for those in the WRC.

Had he won the title, he would have been awarded six fully-funded events in a Rally2 car in next year’s World Rally Championship.

His immediate plans remain unknown, but it seems likely that the world hasn’t seen the end of Taylor Gill.

“Dan and I are committed to pushing our rally career further,” Gill said on a positive note.

“We are already looking at what our options are for next year; we just have to decide what the best step forward is.”

At only 21 years of age, Gill still has the rallying world at his feet.