Gutsy Gill emerges champion

Gaurav Singh Gill of Team MRF, as expected, emerged champion in the K1000 Rally Championship today...

Gaurav Singh Gill of Team MRF, as expected, emerged champion in the K1000 Rally Championship INRC today penalties 1:11.22 , increasing his overall collection in the Indian National Rally Championship to 48 points after four legs Chandigarh leg was cancelled. Gill won the Kochi and Chikmangalur rallies before this.

Second in the rally was Vikram Mathias and Nikhil Pai 1:12.32, followed by Lohit V Urs and Jaidas Menon 1:18.27.

Arjun Rao Arul is second in the INRC with 17, Arjun Balu and Kumar Ramaswamy are third with 13, while Lohit and Vikram are both on 12. Three scheduled legs are left of the INRC.

The interesting run was by Kolkata8217;s Amittrajit Ghosh Sourabh Chowdhury, who not only won the 1400cc Esteem category, but also finished fourth overall 1: 21.10.

Today8217;s was an easy ride, compared to what the rallyists undertook in the last couple of days. The super special spectator round meant it was an open field, and hence an easier roundabout. It was a 2.4 km dirt track through the plantations of Yelahanka and the turns apart, it was pretty much sans danger.

To Gill8217;s credit 8212; he was running at 30 per cent less power from second leg yesterday 8212; he finished well ahead despite a bump that saw an oil leak, coupled with an exhaust squeeze which was not rectified. 8220;It was tough, but I guess I managed it pretty well,8221; Gill said later. 8220;You don8217;t really like to drive around in a rally with an underpowered car.8221;

Yet, his was the one with the best timing in the last leg too 3:38 . His engine was misfiring and power was uncertain, but the overall handling 8212; a driver8217;s forte 8212; was always neat.

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8220;I am sure to be able to present a great car again in the rest of the INRC legs,8221; said Gill. 8220;This win gives me confidence to win it overall.8221;

S Sujay and Chandrasekhar, in the 1400cc were going pretty well, but missed the very essential time control stop in the 13th special stage. The Marshals cancelled his sector.

ALL WINNERS

8226; Overall category: 1 Gaurav Singh Gill/Mosa Sherif Team MRF 1: 11.22

8226; 1600cc: Rahul Kanthraj/Vivek Bhatt 1:27.28.

8226; 1400cc: Sourabh Chaud-hary/Amitrajit Ghosh 1:21.10

8226; Rally Star Cup: Mazdayar Vatcha/Madhu K C 1:23.37;

8226; Gypsy Cup: Suresh Rana H S Bawa 1:26.23.