Gaurav Gill followed up his Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) win in Nashik with one at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) round held at New Caledonia. He crossed the finish in the capital Noumea, with a comfortable margin of 19 minutes over countryman Sanjay Takale.
It was the first time that Indian drivers had claimed the first and second spot in an FIA sanctioned international event. Gill and co-driver Glenn Macneall of Team Skoda MRF, driving a factory-supported Skoda Fabia S2000, registered the fastest time through stage one.
He repeated the feat on the following stage, but an off-road moment on stage three cost him vital time as he attempted to select reverse gear.
His Finnish teammate, Esapekka Lappi, who was placed first on the season-opening International Rally of Whangarei, took the lead and charged on. His lead increased to 15 seconds at the start of stage four but it wasn’t too last.
In a fifth-gear downhill section, Lappi’s car pitched sideways into a large rock and the resulting damage meant an instant retirement from the rally.
Matt van Tuinen retired after being injured in a heavy landing over a large jump on stage two. The jump hit him so hard that he will be undergoing surgery on his back, which will render him out of action for the next two months.
Fellow Australian Bruce Fullerton also faltered over the jump and damaged the engine of his Mitsubishi Lancer, thus forcing his ouster.
Pacific Cup contender Claude Clavel’s challenge ended on stage two when he tore a wheel off his Lancer after striking a tree stump. However, Gill powered on, and started the final day with a comfortable margin, which he preserved until the finish as heavy rain forced organisers to axe five of the day’s planned eight stages.
Australia’s Simon Knowles finished third following a close battle with Sanjay Takale. “I am very proud to stand next to Gaurav on the podium,” said an elated Takale. “I love these roads and I am well used to slippery conditions from rallying in Malaysia. I am very happy because it’s only my second event in four-wheel drive.”
The contenders now head to Australia for the International Rally of Queensland from July 12-14.
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