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Hi-flier gill keen on us sojourn
Before he could get back at the wheel to resume his dominance over the Indian national circuit, Gaurav Gill has put in a lot of air miles. He's committed to the Indian National Rally Championship, is looking to get back his World Rally Championship berth, but the focus for now is on his own American dream.
Before he could get back at the wheel to resume his dominance over the Indian national circuit, Gaurav Gill has put in a lot of air miles. He's committed to the Indian National Rally Championship, is looking to get back his World Rally Championship berth, but the focus for now is on his own American dream.
The Indian rally driver is in talks with the teams and organisers of the United States Rally Championship, eyeing a lucrative shift to the country.
“I just came back from a 15-hour non-stop flight from Chicago,” says a tired Gill, respite nowhere in sight, as he is the most sought after driver at the INRC rally in Nashik this weekend.
“I spoke with the US Rally championships people there, hopefully something will come out of it soon. The level of competition is lower than WRC and the European circuits but it pays a lot. As a professional, you have to think about that aspect.”
Gill's WRC plans were put on hold as his team, Sidvin, pulled out this year due to financial constraints.
He has been haunted by last-stage breakdowns in his recent APRC outings and would like for some luck to shine on him.
“I don't know what it is, I am okay in practice and am leading most of the way and suddenly something breaks down. I really can't do much about it, but I have stopped thinking about it now. It's just some kind of a jinx.”
Having missed the first leg in Coimbatore, Gill surged back into the 2009 INRC lead with a victory in Kolkata and a second place in Karnataka rally. The 28-year-old will head into the all-tarmac rally in Nashik as a firm favourite.
Shimla rally runs into roadblock
The last leg of the INRC, which was scheduled in Shimla from December 12-14, will most probably be scrapped off the 2009 calendar. One of the major reasons is the transportation cost.
With most teams in the competition coming from the southern part of India, they are not too keen on travelling all the way to the Himlayan foothills and had asked the organisers to look after it. But the transportation of each car would run to approximately Rs. 50,000 and the collective financial burden will be too much to handle.
