Gill quietly confident ahead of third leg

There was a sense of calm. Sure, the loudspeakers were blaring, the aroma of freshly-fried fish and chips hung in the air, and there was the usual hustle and bustle associated with a rally, but Gaurav Gill seemed to be unaffected. Sharmistha Chaudhuri reports.

There was a sense of calm. Sure, the loudspeakers were blaring, the aroma of freshly-fried fish and chips hung in the air, and there was the usual hustle and bustle associated with a rally, but Gaurav Gill seemed to be unaffected.

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Walking up to his Skoda Fabia S2000 at the Nambour showground, he seemed to be at peace. “It’s been a good start,” said the current leader of the FIA-Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) drivers’ standings. “I hope it continues,” the Team MRF driver was quick to add.

Placed second in the opening race in New Zealand, he triumphed in New Caledonia.

With the third leg of the APRC to be held this weekend at Queensland, Gill and co-driver Glenn Macneal have a clean 19.5-point lead over second-placed Sanjay Takale, who is driving a Subaru Impreza WRX.

Giving it his all
“Last year started out well too,” Gill’s voice trailed off. Last season, the 31-year-old began with two podium finishes but did not finish the remaining races.

Having won at Queensland three years back, Gill is confident of a good show this weekend.“I’ve been doing this for a while. My job is to do my best. But it’s only since last year that people have been taking notice,” said Gill.

“After all, it was only a few days back that a top rally magazine had a three-page spread on the Indian.

The writer’s trip has been sponsored by MRF