The Indian’s hopes of a good finish vanishes due to technical snag, as Team MRF loses all its three cars on the second day of the China Rally.
The Indian’s hopes of a good finish vanishes due to technical snag, as Team MRF loses all its three cars on the second day of the China Rally
LONGYOU,(China): Gaurav Gill’s hopes of a fine showing in the China Rally of the APRC went bust when his car’s ECU (Electronic Control Unit) shut down on Saturday along with his hopes of a good finish.
It proved to be a disastrous day for Team MRF as all three cars went out. That leaves the final standing for this year’s APRC the same as it was before this event.
Cody Crocker is the overwhelming winner followed by MRF’s Jussi Valimaki and
Katsu Taguchi.
In fact only two cars were left in the fray of the championship with privateer Brain Green and leader Crocker completing the event on Sunday.
The heartening bit that Gill can take back is the fact that he was second fastest amongst the APRC cars in one stage on Saturday despite competing in an older, under-powered car.
His experienced navigator and former Subaru WRC team member Glenn Macneall endorsed his talent that has often been suffocated by the vagaries of his machine.
“Speed is not something that you can nurture in a driver. That bit is natural and Gaurav displays an abundance of it on the track. That he could run so close to the better cars is a clear indication of that. He just needs to be nurtured,” said Macneall who was Chris Atkinson’s co-driver for the last two editions of the WRC.
“It is easy to polish someone who can push the pedal. Gaurav has the instinct and it was perhaps a good decision for the team to figure out what he can do by giving him an older car. He has surely proved his potential.”
The tracks that the China Rally threw up were akin to some of the regular terrain that figures in the sub-Himalayan rallies back in India.
Twisty stages with little room for error had Gill very much in his element as that is precisely just what he is used to since his grooming in the speed game competing in the now defunct two-wheeler section of the Indian National Rally Championship.
“The speeds were very high is some stages while others demanded prudence. Had the car not given up a second place finish was very much on the cards. I am just happy though that I was able to display my ability despite being handicapped by an older car,” said Gill.
Meanwhile Team MRF is not too happy with all three of its cars falling out in the same day.
“In the case of Jussi we suspect fuel contamination. But then these things are difficult to prove,” said Team manger Anthony Rodricks.
As of now MRF is not sure about its plans for next year. “If APRC has controlled tyres - there was some such talk mid-season - we will of course not participate as for us rallying is more about tyre development than publicity.”
When Rodricks was pressed on the future of Gill with the team, he was quite fulsome in his praise.
“If we compete next year he will be a priority. This year we did not want results from him. We just wanted to see how he fits in this level of competition.
He has done well and next year he will have the best of everything. This year he was on probation and did not therefore get the best of equipment.”
Meanwhile MRF has indefinitely postponed its plans for an entry into the PWRC.
“Controlled tyres no longer make it attractive for us. I do feel that the move is incorrect as it checks tyre development and therefore makes no sense for us.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}