Team MRF to field Gaurav Gill in select 2018 WRC2 rallies
The Indian will have its third attempt in WRC, hoping to make it count this time.
The long-awaited announcement has been made with Gaurav Gill confirmed to enter the FIA World Rally Championship 2 category in 2018 with the backing of Team MRF Racing. No further details have been shared as yet.
The release from MRF stated: "Team MRF, having successfully won 9 APRC titles over the last many years, is now foraying into the WRC 2 with Gaurav Gill at the wheel. Further details will be shared shortly."
The three-time Asia-Pacific Rally Championship title holder has been talked-upon for a move to the world stage after years of performance in the Asian championship, however, budget limitations was holding the New Delhi-born driver back.
The move to WRC2 was reported few months back, but nothing was made official by the driver or the Indian tyre manufacturer. It is unclear with whom Gill will drive and which rallies he will compete in, as well.
But it is believed that the veteran Indian will be behind the wheel of Czech manufacturer's Skoda Fabia R5, which has so far won three of the four rallies in the 2018 WRC2 season. It is the same car with which Gill won the last two APRC titles in 2016 and 2017.
This will be Gill's third attempt in WRC after three outings in the PWRC category in 2008 (Wales) and 2009 (Cyprus and Portugal) driving the Subaru Impreza in all the three runs. In fact, the Indian finished seventh in class and 33rd overall in Portugal.
The next 2018 rally takes place in Argentina (Gravel) during April 26-29 weekend, followed by Portugal (Gravel, May 17-20), Italy (Gravel, June 7-10), Finland (Gravel, July 26-29), Germany (Tarmac, August 16-19), Turkey (Gravel, September 13-16), Britain (Gravel, October 4-7), Spain (Mixed, October 25-28) and Australia (Gravel, November 15-18).
In addition to the above news, there is no official confirmation if Team MRF will continue to compete in APRC with Skoda or the Czech manufacturer will enter without its support. An approach has been made to several of the parties involved, we await their response.
[Note: This story was first written by me on: sportsflashes.com/en/news/team-mrf-confirms-wrc2-move-with-gaurav-gill/194206.html]
[Image courtesy: Asia Pacific Rally Championship] #APRC #Rally #Motorsport #WRC #GauravGill #WRC2 #FIA #MRF #MRFTyres #MRFRacing #Asia #smalltribesrule
Join In
Comments (1)
Hi congratulations - your post has been selected by DriveTribe Motorsport Ambassador for promotion on the DriveTribe homepage.