The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Gaurav Gill creates history

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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Sport - Racing : Motor

Gaurav Gill creates history

S.V. Sriram

Gaurav Gill. — File Photo

MAKASSAR: Gaurav Gill of Team MRF created history in the fifth round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

He became the first Indian to win an APRC round, that too with a handsome margin of 1 minute 6.9 seconds.

Team MRF had a perfect finish to its weekend, when Katsuhiko Taguchi, thanks to some great driving, won three of the six special stages to make it a one-two.

Cody Crocker of Team MotorImage, who had a great run till the 11th special stage, was undone by a flat tyre in the 12th.

The 10th place finish in that stage cost him the round, as he had to be content with a third place finish overall.

“I was determined to do well here and get on the podium,” said an emotional Gill after the race.

Praising his co-driver, Gill added, “Jagdev (Singh) has been of great help to me because he has been co-driving Karamjeet, the ex-world champion in the PWRC (Production World Rally Championship).

“It is a 50-50 effort. Our cars and tyres worked really well.

“It was also a nice feeling to break my run of bad luck,” referring to the previous round. “The conditions were also tough. I was feeling unwell after the race, vomited a few times and was dehydrated. But it was all worth it.

“Further, winning against the likes of the experienced Taguchi is a high in itself,” added Gill.

For his part, Taguchi made up for lost ground on Saturday to further extend his lead over title-contender and defender Crocker.

Taguchi is now seven points clear of Crocker with 55 points to the latter’s 48. Said Taguchi: “we were planning to make up time on Sunday. Cody was very fast and very strong. But that flat tyre in the end stages cost him very much. And we pulled in to be second. The idea now is to win the next round in Malaysia and close the title race.”

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