She finished second to this year's first seed Richard Mason in 2007 but female domination at home is high on her New Year's resolution list.
After a successful 2009 abroad, she is sharpening her focus on the national championship, where she has led rounds but is yet to win one outright.
"2010 is the year I am aiming to change all that and, through doing so, become the first woman to win a New Zealand national rally, and the first to win our national championship, too."
As this weekend's Otago Rally is the first of five rounds, she intends to start as she means to go on - equipped with a new weapon in which to attack New Zealand's roads.
Her new current-model Subaru Impreza WRX STI hatch was 2009 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) winner Cody Crocker's and its rebuild has had technical input from Subaru Japan's competition division, STI.
Former Possum Bourne crew member and car builder Kent Thompson has helped with the engine and tuning.
The hatch's geometry gives it more rear-end grip, providing stability at speed, which Gilmour predicts will be a "real advantage" on some of Saturday's fast-flowing North Otago stages.
A rule change for the national group N four-wheel-drive cars has increased the turbo restrictor size from 32mm to 33mm, making "quite a lot of difference to the amount of air intake," and consequently speed, she said.
Joining her for the full season in the co-driver's seat will be fiance Glenn Macneall, who is able to fit the national rounds in among his APRC commitments to top Indian driver Gaurav Gill.
Although she is based in Hamilton, returning to her Otago roots is always a highlight for Gilmour.
"It's my home event.
Rallying in Dunedin and Otago I always have a lot of local support."
The Otago Rally gets under way with a ceremonial start at the Dunedin Railway Station on Friday night from 4pm to 7.30pm.
Drivers will sign autographs from 6pm and Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin will officially open the event at 6.30pm.
This will be followed by a forum with the top drivers.
Entry is free.
Rally guides, which include spectator maps, entry lists and viewing tips, will be available there or from Shell service stations.
