India's Gaurav Gill (co-driver Stephane Prevot) kept the momentum flowing nicely in the four stages for the day to clinch the title in the Coffee Day India Rally 2017, the final round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship here on Sunday.
Having topped the timing chart the other day, the Delhi-based driver had to just stay on track and bring the car home. And, he did that in a commendable manner much to the delight of the crowd and his MRF team. For Gill, it is his third title and second back to back.
The 35-year-old was obviously delighted. “I am happy to have done it for my country yet again.”
Gill picked 38 points for this rally and took his tally to 174 and his rival and team-mate Ole Christian Veiby from Norway finished on 160. It was enough for MRF Tyres to bag the team championship and for Skoda, the manufacturer's trophy.
Veiby was in full command as well winning three out of the four stages. “He has got the age and the backing and he will definitely be in a World Rally team soon. He is one of the quickest guys in the world right now and for me to keep up to his pace and beat him for the title is a job well done,” said Gill.
He said the rally was very difficult this year. “We had it easy last year as we had already sealed the championship before we came to India. But here we had to fight and also there was no margin for error.”
Meanwhile, P. G. Abhilash, having completed all the stages in third place today, retired during the transport run due to mechanical problems and finished fourth, thus allowing Sri Lankan Shafraz Junaid (Akhry Ameer) to finish third.
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