Gill wins India Rally, scripts history

CHIKKAMAGALURU: Barely four weeks after writing a new chapter in the history of Indian motorsport by securing the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) for the second time, Team MRF driver Gaurav Gill scripted another record here on Monday. The Indian became the first driver ever to complete a clean sweep of the APRC season after he clinched the Coffee Day India Rally, the sixth and the final round of the championship.
"Even though I won the championship title this year, this rally was the most important one event for me and for my team.Winning this was more important than the sweeping the series and that's the kind of weight I carried on my shoulders. Undoubtedly, this is my most satisfying win only because it was achieved in India and here in Chikkamagaluru," said a delighted Gill.
"I hope my six out of six wins this season should be a boost for the sport. It should wake up the sponsors and I hope more car manufacturers come into the sport," 35-year-old said adding that he is planning to enter the European championship next season.
Gill's victory was almost certain after he took a sizeable seven-minute lead on Sunday. He just needed an error-free drive to complete the formalities and Gill gleefully did that. After emerging fastest in all the 12 special stages on Monday, Gill, driving a Skoda Fabia R5 and navigated by New Zealand co-driver Glenn Macneall, played it safe in the remaining four stages to clock an overall time of three hours 39 minutes and 37 seconds covering a total distance of 519.02 kms over three days. Macneall clinched the co-driver's title while MRF took the team championship and Skoda pouched the manufacturer's crown.
Cusco Racing's Mike Young (co-driver Malcolm Read) were a further 11 minutes 32 seconds behind Gill. Coming third were Cusco Racing Indian driver Sanjay Takale (Noriko Takeshita), 24 minutes behind the winner.
Gill termed the Chikkamagaluru rally was the toughest of the season. "This was the most slowest and toughest rallies of the season. I always thought Malaysia was tough but this turned out to be even tougher. Our cars were so fast and a slightest mistake could have resulted in a crash," said Gill.
Meanwhile in the FMSCI Indian Rally Championship that was run concurrently, Karna Kadur (Nikhil Pai) of Team Yokohama 2K took the top honours after overnight leader Amittrajit Ghosh (Ashwin Naik) dropped out due to mechanical problems.
Provisional results (After Leg-3): APRC: 1. Gaurav Gill / Glenn Macneall (Team MRF) (3hrs, 39mins, 37.9secs); 2. Mike Young / Malcolm Read (Cusco Racing) (03:51:10.3); 3. Sanjay Takale / Noriko Takeshita (Cusco Racing) (04:03:51.0).
INRC Overall: 1. Karna Kadur / Nikhil Pai (Team Yokohama 2K) (01:52:15.9); 2. Dr Bikku Babu / Milen George (01:53:31.4); 3. Rahul Kantharaj / Vivek Bhatt (Team Yokohama 2K) (01:55:27.6).
FMSCI Cup: 1. Jacob KJ / Manoj Mohanan (02:01:14.8); 2. Michu Ganapathy / Venu Ramesh Kumar (02:01:25.8); 3. Fabid Ahmer / Arjun Dheerendra (02:06:06.7).
IRC: 1. Sanjay Takale / Noriko Takeshita (Cusco Racing) (01:48:59.2); 2. Ritesh M Guttedar / Sheeraz Ahmed (02:01:12.3); 3. Byram Godrej / Ninad Mirajgaonkar (02:02:47.5).
Gypsy Star (non-championship): 1. Sanjay Agarwal /Smitha N (02:09:53.3); 2. Avin Nanjappa / Suraj Shetti (02:17:36.1); 3. Dheeraj KV / Ravi (02:39:03.7).