Gaurav Gill (co-driver Glenn Macneall) of Team MRF, driving a factory-supported Skoda S2000, completed an overwhelming victory at Rally New Caledonia on Sunday by finishing 19 minutes clear of second-placed Sanjay Takale (Sean Gregory), who was in a Subaru Impreza.
Gill’s MRF teammate Esapek-ka Lappi (Janne Firm) was unable to start the rally, which also doubled up as the second round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), on Day 2 because of chassis damage sustained on Saturday.
Gill was masterful on the very slippery roads soaked by overnight rain that also led to the cancellation of five special stages on Sunday. It left just one stage to be used thrice with just 51 km to contest. It presented a challenge for Gill to not take it too easy and lose concentration.
“The technical problems we had with the car in New Zealand resurfaced on shakedown but fortunately Lane Heenan (Race Torque Engineering) and his mechanics found the problem so I was able to drive with confidence,” said Gill.