Gill to drive WRC2 for Skoda in 2018: A well-deserved break for the King of Indian Motorsports

David Bodapati January 20, 2018

1,330 1 minute read

Gauvrav Gill in Whangerai, New Zealand, on Thursday. Photo by Anand Philar

Gauvrav Gill in Whangerai, New Zealand. A 2016 file Photo by Anand Philar

Bangalore, 20 Jan 2018: Gaurav Gill, the king of Indian Motorsports, finally gets a chance to make his WRC debut. The World Rally Championship has been his dream and the Speed Maestro has done everything to prove himself. “I have been aggressive and have never slowed down in my entire career. But I have matured. I have to support and win things for my sponsors, my supporters. So I will be fastest, but I will try to win something for them. Then I will be winning it for myself too,” the Magic Driver, who weaves his speed around whatever he lays his hands on, said at the K1000 mandatory press conference on Saturday.

Gaurav Gill will be driving WRC2 seven rounds in 2018 for Skoda. The Indian is on a strict regimen to reduce his weight and get fit and “is on the lookout for funding”. I will be announcing the launch and the sponsor at an official event soon, said Gill on the sidelines of K1000 press conference at Century Club in Bangalore today.

“The God’s gift to India as far as speed is concerned. He is a madman. He is no joke. Win or loss does not matter, pedal-to-the-metal is the only mantra,” said a vociferous fan about the Diva of motorsports.

The Delhi based, three-time Asia Pacific Rally Champion is the only Indian at the FIA awards function last year. Having won the APRC title for the third time, Gill was invited for the FIA awards gala. When this correspondent contacted him, Gill modestly replied that he would not be back before Dec 12, where he would be attending a press conference for Skoda. Little did I realise that this is the beginning of the long-dream of World Rally Championship. Last year too it fizzled out despite promising beginnings and talks at Pune.

In 2017 ŠKODA teams not only won the FIA World Rally Championship’s WRC 2 titles but also 14 national plus a number of regional championships. WRC 2 Champion Pontus Tidemand (27), Ole Christian Veiby (21), Juuso Nordgren (21)
and Kalle Rovanperä (17) will be driving the factory team’s ŠKODA FABIA R5 in 2018.

When former colleagues, who lost to him are shining, can we keep the giant idle for long, for want of sponsorship?

More than 170 ŠKODA FABIA R5 sold to ŠKODA importers and private teams worldwide.

eom/edited and deleted jumbled matter on 22jan2018/by DB