Team MRF Tyres’ Gaurav Gill all set for New Caledonia

David Bodapati May 16, 2014

458 1 minute read

New Caledonia, 16 May 2014: Team MRF Tyres Skoda driver and defending champion Gaurav Gill will return to New Caledonia this weekend for Round 2 of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). Gill, who won at New Caledonia last year, will be joined by European Rally Champion and Team MRF Tyres Skoda team-mate Jan Kopecký from the Czech Republic, as the two drivers are all set to resume their battle in the Skoda Fabia S2000.

The MRF team driver line-up is impressive featuring both the current APRC Champion Gaurav Gill and Czech driver Jan Kopecky European Champion. Last month in New Zealand, the MRF Rally drivers made the perfect start finishing 1-2 in the first round. Indian rallying champ Gaurav Gill took the honours after a 23 sec deficit on day 1 to win by 11 secs.

With both drivers closely matched and MRF Rally tyres ideal for New Caledonia conditions, Skoda factory backed cars prepared by Race Torque engineering are confident heading into Round 2.

Although twice a previous winner here, two of the stages are relatively new to Gill having been cancelled last year because of rain. So for a greater part it is a level playing field with team mate Jan Kopecky who showed in New Zealand he was extremely competitive by leading for over half of the rally distance.

Gaurav Gill was optimistic after winning last year. He commented, “I am thrilled to be back in New Caledonia with the MRF Tyres Skoda team. The stages will be slightly different this year with the roads been made wider and smoother and in most places it’s going to be faster than last year. Hopefully it will be dry this year. In New Caledonia it is important not to push too hard, it can be very tough on both drivers and cars and as the saying goes, first you must finish. Experience has taught me we don’t try to go faster we need to be more precise”.

New Caledonia is nestled in the South West Pacific and surrounded by the most beautiful tropical lagoons however venture inland and you will find the rugged interior roads that can catch out even the most experienced driver

The rally course is situated 50 kilometres to the north of the capital Noumea on mining and rural roads. There is 235 km of high speed tests broken down into 17 stages, 3 stages repeated 3 times on Saturday and the course run again in reverse on Sunday.

While the weather is normally fine and the temperature a balmy 25c this time of the year, rain can have a significant impact turning parts of the course into a skating rink.

2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship Points after first round

(1) Gaurav Gill (IND) 38, (2) Kan Kopecky (CZE) 31, (3) Mark Pedder (AUS) 25