Asia-Pacific Rally Championship: Gaurav Gill opens up big gap on Day One
All signs point to an MRF one-two on the podium, if one goes by their performance on the first day.
Maroochydore (Australia): Where there’s a Gill, there’s a way. Championship leader Gaurav Gill showed just why he is one of the more feared competitors in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship when he showed remarkable skill in the face of a hostile terrain and an unfamiliar car to rack up a near two-minute lead here on Saturday.
The MRF-Skoda driver negotiated the often treacherous course to lead his nearest rival, MRF teammate Fabien Kreim, by 1:49.4 after eight special stages in Sunshine Coast.
All signs point to an MRF one-two on the podium, if one goes by their performance on the first day. Except for one stage, Special Stage 8 Cutters 2, MRF dominated the field. Gill and Glenn Macneall led all eight stages while Kreim and co-driver Frank Christian trailed their teammates in the first seven.
The role of Gill’s navigator Macneall cannot be overstated as the rather fickle weather conditions here made the course even more challenging. If Gill was the driving force behind the duo’s success, Macneall’s was the soft touch that nudged them in the right direction.
Now, with the benefit of a seemingly unbeatable lead, Gill reckons he can now focus on getting to know the car better. “This is a big lead, so now I can stop pushing tomorrow and instead focus on learning the car,” Gill said.
“It was a very challenging day. The terrain kept changing. What would otherwise be a great, hard road would completely change in character once it rains. It becomes slick, and suddenly it’s like trying to control your car on a marble surface. I also wasn’t completely confident driving this new car. All things considered, it was a pretty good day.”
The second day will see the drivers in action on the same eight stages, but this time, they will go in reverse. Barring a catastrophe, the Indian driver should take top honours in Queensland.