INDIA in F1

Tag: Rally

  • Gaurav Gill tops time charts to take comfortable lead: INRC MRF South India Rally

    Gaurav Gill tops time charts to take comfortable lead: INRC MRF South India Rally

    Action, Gaurav Gill on a charge. Photos – Anand Philar

    Chennai, 28 April 2018: The legend of Gaurav Gill continued to grow following another superlative performance that put him firmly in control of the MRF South India Rally, the first round of the Indian National Rally Championship here today. At the end of Leg 1, Gill, piloting the XUV 500 for Mahindra Adventure, led the field by over a minute and with just five more Stages to be run tomorrow, victory for the three-time Asia Pacific Rally Champion is virtually assured.

    With his vehicle suffering from a locked hand-brake leading to overheating of the turbo and the engine, Gill, with Musa Sherif in the co-driver’s seat, still had enough in the tank to destroy the opposition.

    “We had an issue with the hand-brake during the first loop in the morning. The rear wheels got locked and the turbo temperature soared. So, we were down on power which is reflected in the Stage timings.

    “During service after the first run, we decided to do away with the handbrake. It meant I had to change my driving style. It was absolutely wild to drive this XUV without handbrake especially the Track Stage being very twisty. Anyway, I still managed to make plenty of time on others. Tomorrow, I will just cruise as the priority is to bring the car home safely,” said the 36-year old Delhi-based ace.

    Second overall after Leg 1 was Younus Ilyas (co-driver Harish KN) of Race Concepts, driving a Mitsubishi Cedia in the INRC 2 class.

    Younnus Ilyas

    He came up with an excellent drive to lead Karna Kadur (Nikhil Pai) of ARKA Motorsports, albeit by just 4.7 seconds to set up a thrilling battle on Sunday when the remaining five Stages will be run.

    Slotted in fourth place and 3.8 seconds behind Kadur was Mahindra Adventure’s Amittrajit Ghosh (Ashwin Naik), also in the XUV 500 while young Dean Mascarenhas (Shruptha Padival), piloting the VW Polo (INRC 3) was placed fifth overall.

    Among the front-runners, Arjun Rao (Satish Rajagopal) of Falcon Motorsports struggled with his VW Polo R2 after losing the third gear at the very first corner in the day’s first Stage, the SSS, and lost precious time to finish the day overall sixth.

    Veteran Vicky Chandhok (Chandramouli), also in a VW Polo R2, ended up overall 11th after starting the day by topping the time sheets in the Super Special Stage, some three seconds ahead of Gill! The nimble R2, running on slicks, had the advantage on the bulkier XUV 500, but that should not take anything away from Chandhok’s competitiveness.

    But as the day wore on, 61-year old Chandhok, returning to competitive rallying after a lapse of 18 years, dropped down the charts, but seemed pretty pleased with his performance.

    “The R2 is an excellent vehicle, but needs to be driven hard. I pushed a bit, but had to remind myself that I was not here to prove a point to anybody. Overall, it’s been a fun day,” said Chandhok.

    The extreme heat and humidity was among the topics of heated discussion in the garages and also those connected with the event. The weather conditions took a heavy toll on just about everyone and for sure, there will be no respite on the morrow!

    Provisional classification (Leg 1):

    Overall: 1. Gaurav Gill / Musa Sherif (Mahindra Adventure, XUV 500) (44mins, 35.0 secs); 2. Younus Ilyas / Harish Kumar (Race Concepts, Mitsubishi Cedia) (45:39.5); 3. Karna Kadur / Nikhil Pai (ARKA Motorsports, VW Polo) (45:44.2).

    INRC-1: 1. Gill / Sherif; 2. Amittrajit Ghosh / Ashwin Naik (Mahindra Adventure, XUV 500) (45:48.0); 3. Arjun Rao / Satish Rajagopal (Falcon Motorsports, VW Polo R2) (45:56.7).

    INRC-2: 1. Ilyas / Harish Kumar; 2. Kadur / Pai; 3. Rahul Kanthraj / Vivek Bhatt (ARKA Motorsports, VW Polo) (46:57.7).

    INRC-3: 1. Mascarenhas / Padival; 2. Aroor Vikram Rao / Somayya AG (Falcon Motorsports, VW Polo) (46:10.2); 3. Chetan Shivram / Rupesh Kholay (Team Akshara, VW Polo) (46:16.4).

    FMSCI 2WD Cup: 1. Adith KC / Suraj K (Pvt, Honda City V-tec) (46:46.0); 2. Suraj Thomas / Sob George (Pvt, Honda City V-tec) (47:56.5); 3. Ravi MS / Priyamvada Saradhi (Pvt, Maruti Baleno) (50:48.4).

    FMSCI 4WD Cup: 1. Nikhil J / Arjun Dheerendra (Pvt, Maruti Gypsy) (01:00:55.5).

     

     

  • Ott Tanak-Martin Jarveoja dominate Friday stages: WRC Round 5 Rally Argentina

    Ott Tanak-Martin Jarveoja dominate Friday stages: WRC Round 5 Rally Argentina

    Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja take lead in the 5th round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship at Rally Argentina  on Friday, April 26-19, Photo by Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC

    Ott Tänak has dominated Friday afternoon’s stages of Rally Argentina, the Estonian winning each of the three repeated tests to claim a 22.7 second advantage after just over 155 competitive kilometres. Kris Meeke moved ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen for second position and Thierry Neuville has climbed from sixth to third overnight

    This afternoon posed an equally tough challenge for the crews and only three of the top 10 retained the positions they held leaving the mid-leg service. Tänak has taken total command and has flown through the stages, his rivals at a loss to match his stage-winning pace. As such, he has extended his slim 0.8 second advantage to 22.7 seconds this evening, happy the car is really starting to suit him. Meeke started the afternoon third behind Mikkelsen, but when the Norwegian had a puncture in the first stage and dropped nearly 30 seconds, he was able to move ahead into second. Meeke then dropped time with a puncture of his own in the last stage, but is happy to remain in contention with potentially bad weather forecast tomorrow. Thierry Neuville took a bit of a tyre gamble this afternoon and while he knew his hard selection wouldn’t fare best on the first stage, he is just a handful of seconds behind Meeke and in the fight after a clever drive this afternoon.

    He and team-mate Dani Sordo have been trading positions and from fifth at the mid-leg service the Spaniard is now up to fourth having overhauled Sebastien Ogier. He and Neuville are still however locked in a fight with only 0.9 second between them, with Ogier just 6.9 seconds further behind. The Frenchman has been on the limit today and minimised time loss running at the head of the field. He is looking to capitalise with a better road position tomorrow. Craig Breen has had a better afternoon and is sixth and battling to stay ahead of Mikkelsen who, from leading this morning, is now seventh after the puncture. Esapekka Lappi continues to be frustrated by small mistakes and problems and after a great run this morning picked up two punctures and is now over a minute adrift of the lead in eighth. Elfyn Evans has had a disappointing day and the Welshman is ninth ahead of team-mate Teemu Suninen who rounds off the top 10. Toyota also confirmed that Jari-Matti Latvala would not be returning to competition tomorrow, damage to the engine oil lubrication system forcing him out terminally.

    In the FIA WRC 2 Championship, Pontus Tidemand continues to lead and the Swede has 20.2 seconds in hand to team-mate Kalle Rovanperä. Gus Greensmith retains third.

    Rally Argentina – Unofficial results after Section 5

    1 Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 1hr 30min 38.6sec
    2 Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroen C3 WRC 1hr 31min 01.3sec
    3 Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 1hr 31min 07.2sec
    4 Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Couple WRC 1hr 31min 08.1sec
    5 Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 1hr 31min 15.0sec
    6 Craig Breen / Scott Martin Citroen C3 WRC 1hr 31min 19.8sec
    7 Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 WRC 1hr 31min 37.1sec
    8 Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 1hr 31min 46.5sec
    9 Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta WRC 1hr 31min 48.9sec
    10 Teemu Suninen / Mikko Markkula Ford Fiesta WRC 1hr 32min 12.3sec
  • Gaurav Gill odds-on favourite to win MRF South India Rally: INRC Round 1

    Gaurav Gill odds-on favourite to win MRF South India Rally: INRC Round 1

    Gaurav Gill and co-driver Musa Sherif of Mahindra Adventure, all set to defend their Indian National Rally Championship crown. The 2018 INRC season commences in Chennai this weekend.  Photos: Anand Philar.​

    Chennai, 27 April 2018: Reigning champion Gaurav Gill, driving the Mahindra Adventure’s XUV 500, heads a 31-car field as the MRF South India Rally which kicks off the 2018 FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship season here this weekend.

    Organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club, the event which commences with a ceremonial flag-off at the GRT Hotel here on Friday, will see the participants tackling 106.6 Kms of Special Stages over the following two days.

    The two physical Stages are located at the iconic MMRT racing circuit where a 10.15 Kms of dirt track has been specially prepared, and the 13.85 Kms AAVISA, about 24 Kms away from MMRT, off Chennai-Bengaluru National highway.

    Much of the attention will be on 36-year old Delhi-based Gill who will be making his entry into the World Rally Championship 2 category later this year, backed by MRF Tyres who had supported him through 10 seasons in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship that he won thrice.

    Ahead of the season-opener, there are plenty of expectations. For one, Gill is the overwhelming favourite to retain the National title with the seasoned Musa Sherif in the co-driver’s seat.

    The top-end INRC 1 class has six entries, besides Gill. His team-mate Amittrajit Ghosh (co-driver Ashwin Naik) will be in the second XUV 500 vehicle while the field also includes two Toyota Liva entries representing Team Thums, and Arjun Rao (Satish Rajagopal) of Falcon Motorsports in a VW Polo R2.

    Creating a big buzz in the INRC circles is 61-year old Vicky Chandhok who is making a comeback of sorts after a gap of 18 years. He is partnered by the highly rated co-driver M Chandramouli. Former FMSCI president Chandhok who is also the president of the FIA APRC, will be driving a factory-supported VW Polo R2 in the INRC 1 class.

    “It feels great to get back into a rally car and drive it with anger. I hope to do well. The last rally I drove was in 2000 in the same event in a Mitsubishi Lancer. But the R2 is a whole lot different package, but fun to drive,” said Chandhok, looking far trimmer after a month’s absence from his favourite whisky! “I haven’t touched a drop in the past one month, but will enjoy my drink on Sunday after the rally,” he added.

    The competition in the INRC 2 and INRC 3 classes appears wide open. Both categories showcase a lot of experience and youth besides talent. Rahul Kanthraj and his co-driver Vivek Bhatt (Arka Motorsports) head the INRC 2 field and will be seeking a winning start in their bid to retain the crown in this class. The duo will be starting their 19th season together and form one of the most enduring partnerships in the National championship.

    Kanthraj will have to keep a sharp eye on his talented team-mate Karna Kadur (Nikhil Pai) who is among the most talented rally drivers in the country, but has never quite been able to match his potential. For the South India Rally, Kadur’s big issue is his brand new VW Polo whose engine is still to be run-in, and as such, face overheating problem that cropped during the test session yesterday. So, Kadur will have his fingers crossed.

    In INRC 3, young Mangalorean Dean Mascarenhas and co-driver Shrupta Padiwal in Falcon Motorsports livery are the odds-on favourites, having won the championship in this class last year. However, they can expect stiff competition from rookie Fabid Arakkal (co-driver Fayaz Arakkal) from Kerala who is being spoken of highly by the connoisseurs.

    Also in INRC 3 is the experienced Bengaluru pair of Chetan Shivram and co-driver Rupesh Kholay who have moved up a class after winning the 2-Wheel Drive Cup last season.

    `Champions’ from Coorg raring to go!

    Meanwhile, a new team called “Team Champions”, hailing from Kodagu district in Karnataka, will be making a debut in the INRC with a two-car entry in the INRC 3 class.

    The two non-championship categories, 2-Wheel Drive Cup and 4-Wheel Drive Cup, complete the grid with the former having seven entries and the latter, just one, a Maruti Gypsy, driven by Nikhil J, which a few years ago was phased out from the championship.

    After this morning’s recce run, the competitors were unanimous in their praise of both the two Special Stages which are likely to see very high speeds. A few jumps over crests will no doubt add spice to the proceedings. The AAVISA Special Stage was said to be quite fast despite the many tight corners. The track stage which was specially prepared for this event and which will serve as a training / practice circuit, should see plenty more action with several high-speed jumps that should be a photographer’s delight. Overall, MMSC have put in a lot of effort to provide excellent Stages that in more ways one are “driver’s delight”.

     

     

  • Tidemand eyeing repeat win in Argentina and take WRC 2 championship lead

    Tidemand eyeing repeat win in Argentina and take WRC 2 championship lead

    Pontus Tidemand seeking a repeat win in Argentina. Photo: SKODA AUTO

    Mladá Boleslav, 24 April 2018: With a repetition of their last year’s win at the upcoming Rally Argentina (26 – 29 April), reigning WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE) could move into the championship lead again ahead of their SKODA Motorsport team-mates Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler (CZE/CZE) who won two of the four rounds so far.

    Kalle Rovanperä, the 17-year old ŠKODA junior from Finland, is the youngest driver in the Rally Argentina entry list and together with co-driver Jonne Halttunen (FIN) proved his speed on the gravel tracks of the recent Rally Mexico. Norwegians Ole Christian Veiby and Stig Rune Skjaermœn, another duo of ŠKODA juniors, will contest Rally Argentina without being registered for WRC 2 championship points.

    Rally Argentina, fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, will see ŠKODA Motorsport competing with Tidemand and Rovanperä. One year ago, Tidemand achieved a dominant win in Argentina for the Czech brand in the WRC 2 category.

    Kalle Rovanpera. Photo: SKODA AUTO

    On the other hand, Rovanperä and Veiby are newcomers to Rally Argentina. Veiby finished fourth at the recent Tour de Corse. In Argentina, he is not registered to score points for the WRC 2 championship.

    ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek says: “So far, the 2018 Motorsport season is running very well for ŠKODA. After winning in Monte Carlo, Mexico and Corsica we have a double lead in the WRC 2 championship standings. And the development program for our young drivers runs perfect as well. Kalle and OC have shown great performances on World Championship level.

    “Juuso Nordgren made a good impression finishing on the podium with an excellent third place at the last round of the Czech Championship. We will see him during the 2018 season on selected events including some of WRC 2.”

    A strong pillar of the ŠKODA motorsport programme is the activity with customer teams. The ŠKODA FABIA R5 is currently the most successful car in its category and will do its best to keep its position after getting a recent engine upgrade.

    “We’re proud, that with no fewer than seven ŠKODA FABIA R5 in Argentina. We’re the strongest brand in WRC 2 and RC 2 category there. It absolutely proves that our strategy is working. With the presence of our works team we demonstrate the attractiveness and competitiveness of our rally car,” says Hrabánek.

    In Argentina, around 360 Kms over 18 special stages, ranging from the Argentine prairie to altitudes of more than 2,000 metres, sandy tracks across flatlands and rutted mule trails high in the mountains, are waiting for the crews. Demanding tracks in the foothills of the Andes near Cordoba are quite similar to those of Rally Mexico.

    The two ŠKODA FABIA R5, the one that carried Tidemand to victory in Mexico and Rovanperä’s car, were transported directly from Mexico to Cordoba. To a certain extent, they are already “acclimatised” to the Argentine environment.

    The Rally Argentina starts on the evening of Thursday, 26 April, with a spectacular show stage close to the service park in Villa Carlos Paz. The winner is expected on the podium at the shores of Lake San Roque on Sunday, 29 April.

    SKODA AUTO Press Release

  • Team MRF and Gaurav Gill head to WRC 2; quit APRC after 16 seasons and nine titles

    Team MRF and Gaurav Gill head to WRC 2; quit APRC after 16 seasons and nine titles

    Gaurav Gill (right) and co-driver Stephane Prevot with the 2017 FIA APRC trophy. Photo: Anand Philar

    By Anand Philar

    Bengaluru, April 16: In a major motorsport move, India’s leading tyre manufacturer MRF Tyres on Monday announced their entry into the FIA World Rally Championship 2 category with Gaurav Gill at the wheels, thus ending their 16-season campaign in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship which they had dominated with nine titles.

    In a rather cryptic official press release today, Chennai-based MRF Tyres said: “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.”

    INDIAinF1.com first broke this story in January 2018. 

    Gill, who is all set to launch his Advanced Driving Academy in his hometown Delhi shortly, said: “I am obviously thrilled. It is a dream come true for me. In the APRC, I had competed and beaten some of the best drivers from Europe and now, it is time for me to compete with them in their territory. Read my piece on his training sessions at Coimbatore here.

    “This year, it is all about learning for both me and MRF. We will be participating in limited number of WRC 2 rounds, gathering a lot of data for tyre development etc. So, I do not expect any big results. As of now, we haven’t decided on the car I will be driving and also other details are being worked out. The picture will be clear in the coming weeks.”

    The move up to WRC 2 was on the cards pending confirmation from MRF with Gill often expressing his desire to compete on the World stage after winning three APRC titles in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

    For both MRF and Gill, it is a huge step forward, though it is more than likely that the team will use the 2018 WRC 2 season, which has seen four of the 13 scheduled rounds already completed, as a dip-stick prior to doing the full championship next year. It is not known which round MRF and Gill will enter this season with Round 5 to be held in Argentina (April 26-29), followed by Portugal (May 17-20).

    Since MRF and Gill are not registered for 2018 WRC 2 championship, they will not be eligible for any points as per FIA regulations regardless of where they finish in the rounds they will be participating.

    It is also to be confirmed whether MRF will continue their association with Czech car manufacturer Skoda or go with another make of car in the WRC 2.

    File picture of Gaurav Gill in action. Photo: Anand Philar

    Skoda and MRF first partnered in the 2012 APRC season with the S2000 before the Czech manufacturer moving to the Skoda Fabia R5 in 2016. The MRF-Skoda partnership dominated the APRC by winning six championships on the trot between 2012 and 2017.

    MRF made their APRC entry in 2002 with India’s top drivers at the time, Naren Kumar and Arjun Balu before opting for more experienced European crews in 2003 beginning with Germany’s Armin Kremer who won the championship on debut.

    As for Gill, his long-cherished dream of competing at the World-level is about to become reality. The 36-year old Delhi-based ace, since his APRC debut in 2007, has evolved from a driver with raw speed to a mature pilot capable of competing with the best in the World. While winning three APRC titles, Gill time and again defeated Skoda’s factory-supported drivers to emphasise the point that he belongs to World level of rallying.

    Gill is not new to the WRC scene. Backed by a Bengaluru-based company Sidvin, he participated in PWRC rounds in 2008 (Wales) and 2009 (Portugal and Cyprus), while becoming the first and only Indian to score points when he finished seventh in Portugal.

    Gaurav Gill’s APRC record:

    Starts: 57. Wins: 17. Podium: 12. Championship titles: 3 (2013, 2016 and 2017). Debut: 2007 in Mitsubishi Evo IX. First win: 2008, Indonesia in Mitsubishi IX. Last win: 2017, India (Coffee Day India Rally, Chikmagalur) in Skoda Fabia R5.

    Team MRF’s Scroll of Honour in FIA APRC:

    2003 – Armin Kremer / Fred Bressen (Germany) – Mitsubishi Evo VII

    2005 – Jussi Valimaki / Jarko Kalliolepo (Finland) – Mitsubishi Evo VIII

    2010 – Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan) / Mark Stacey (Australia) – Mitsubishi Evo X

    2012 – Chris Atkinson (Australia) / Stephane Prevot (Belgium) – Skoda Fabia S2000

    2013 – Gaurav Gill (India) / Glenn Macneall (Australia) – Skoda Fabia S2000

    2014 – Jan Kopecky / Pavel Dressler (Czech Republic) – Skoda Fabia S2000

    2015 – Pontus Tidemand / Emil Axelsson (Sweden) – Skoda Fabia S2000

    2016 – Gaurav Gill (India) / Glenn Macneall (Australia) – Skoda Fabia R5

    2017 – Gaurav Gill (India) / Stephane Prevot (Belgium) – Skoda Fabia R5

  • Sebastian Ogier, Julien Ingrassia take third win of the year: WRC Corsica

    Corsica, April 8: Defending FIA World Rally Champions Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claimed their third WRC victory of the season today, winning the Tour de Corse by a margin of 36.1 seconds. Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja headed the Toyota challenge and finished second, ultimately ending up with over 30 seconds in hand to Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul, the Belgians having a late scare in the Power Stage with an unconfirmed engine problem.

    In the FIA World Rally Championship standings, Ogier increases his lead at the top of the table and now has a 17-point advantage over Neuville, who in turn has 22 points in hand to third-place Tanak. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT tops the Manufacturers’ Championship, but with only four points between the Korean team and M-Sport Ford, the battle looks set to rage on.

    Today was the shortest of the event and took in just two stages. However, there was a sharp wake-up call for the crews early this morning as the competition kicked off with a daunting 55-kilometer test before closing with the much shorter 16 kilometer Power Stage. Ogier, who led from start to finish, was able to manage the pace and the five-time Champion cruised to the finish, picking up an additional three points on the all-important Power Stage. Victory in Corsica represents the 43rd WRC victory for both he and Ingrassia.

    After moving into second place by one-tenth of a second last night, Tanak was second fastest through the long stage, despite some understeer, but was gifted time by Neuville who was forced to complete the final stage down on power. He dropped nearly 15 seconds but had enough of a cushion to team-mate Dani Sordo to retain the final podium position.

    The fight for fourth between Dani Sordo and Elfyn Evans continued during the final day and the rivals were split by just 3.5 seconds at the end of the event. Esapekka Lappi suffered heartache in the first stage; after fighting his way into podium contention yesterday, the Finn clipped a kerb and had to stop and change a broken wheel, losing him nearly two minutes. As a consequence, he dropped to sixth but took some consolation from maximum points in the Power Stage.

    Andreas Mikkelsen has been at a loss to understand a lack of pace in Corsica and the Norwegian came home in seventh. Asphalt expert Jan Kopecky claimed the FIA WRC 2 Championship win, his second of the season, and finished eighth overall just ahead of Kris Meeke who returned for the final day of action after going off the road yesterday. After his Friday morning accident, Sebastien Loeb finished 14th, having shown the pace befitting a nine-time FIA World Rally Champion. The FIA Junior/WRC 3 Championship was won by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Franceschi, who finished over 30 seconds ahead of Terry Folb.

    The FIA World Rally Championship contenders now take the long trip to South America for one of the most popular events on the calendar, Rally Argentina (26-29 April).

    Tour de Corse – Final Unofficial classification (subject to scrutineering)

    1 Sebastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 26min 52.7sec
    2 Ott Tanak / Martin Jarveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 3hr 27min 28.8sec
    3 Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 28min 00.2sec
    4 Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Couple WRC 3hr 28min 55.3sec
    5 Elfyn Evans / Phil Mills Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 28min 58.8sec
    6 Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 3hr 29min 26.2sec
    7 Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 WRC 3hr 29min 36.1sec
    8 Jan Kopecky / Pavel Dresler Skoda Fabia R5 3hr 37min 27.5sec
    9 Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroen C3 WRC 3hr 37min 33.2sec
    10 Yoann Bonato / Benjamin Bouilloud Citroen C3 R5 3hr 39min 18.7sec

  • Sebastien Ogier consolidates lead: WRC Corsica

    Corsica, April 7: At the end of the second full day of competition on the Tour de Corse, the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Sebastien Ogier heads the field with an impressive 44.5-second advantage and the Frenchman is on course to notch up a second WRC Corsican victory. Behind the Fiesta WRC driver, however, the battle has been raging for the final podium positions and Kris Meeke, Thierry Neuville, Ott Tanak and Esapekka Lappi were all split by a mere 13.5 seconds going into the final stage. However, Meeke went off the road into retirement, leaving the fight in the hands of Tanak – who also overhauled Neuville – and fourth-placed Lappi.

    This afternoon the crews returned for a second run through this morning’s stages. Ogier remains comfortable in the Championship-winning Fiesta but isn’t taking any risks as he bids to extend his lead in the Championship with a win. Meeke, Neuville, Tanak and Lappi have all been battling behind the Frenchman. After the second stage Meeke and Neuville were, remarkably, tied in second with Tanak just 3.1 seconds further adrift. Meeke lost some time with a lock-up in the first stage while Neuville was down on grip, but both have been pushing to the maximum to claim the coveted second position. It was Meeke who made the error though, the Northern Irish driver mistaking a pace note and going off the road in the final stage, too fast into a corner. Tanak was joint fastest through the final stage to overhaul Neuville by one-tenth of a second, but a flying Lappi is hunting down the pair of them and is now 10.3 seconds adrift after setting two fastest times this afternoon.

    The Finn is a transformed man today; overnight changes to the suspension and differentials have increased his confidence and he was fastest through the afternoon’s opener. He has slashed the deficit to those in front and is now well and truly in the podium fight after going joint fastest in the final stage too. Sordo, in fifth, benefitted in the first stage with a good set-up but lost out in the second with understeer. The Spaniard nevertheless needs to press on with Elfyn Evans hot on his heels, just 3.1 seconds behind in sixth. Andreas Mikkelsen is seventh and rounds out the leading world rally car drivers. Jari-Matti Latvala went into retirement after hitting a tree and Bryan Bouffier was forced out with an engine problem. Sebastien Loeb set another fastest time this afternoon, once again showing he has lost none of the talent that has rewarded him with nine WRC world titles.

    Asphalt expert Jan Kopecky is eighth overall and leads the FIA WRC 2 Championship category ahead of Fabio Andolfi, youngster Ole Christian Veiby losing second position in the final stage with a gearbox problem. Jean-Baptiste Franceschi has maintained his lead in the FIA Junior WRC Championship standings this afternoon and has extended his advantage over Terry Folb.

    The final day of competition on the 2018 Tour de Corse takes in just two stages on Sunday but kicks off with the longest test of the event, the daunting 55.17 kilometre Vero-Sarrola-Carcopino. The event then closes with the televised Power Stage ahead of the finish in Ajaccio.

    Tour de Corse – Unofficial classification after Section 6

    1 Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 2hr 43min 07.7sec
    2 Ott Tanak / Martin Jarveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 2hr 43min 52.2sec
    3 Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 2hr 43min 52.3sec
    4 Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 2hr 44min 02.6sec
    5 Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Couple WRC 2hr 44min 54.4sec
    6 Elfyn Evans / Phil Mills Ford Fiesta WRC 2hr 44min 57.5sec
    7 Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 WRC 2hr 45min 21.2sec
    8 Jan Kopecky / Pavel Dresler Skoda Fabia R5 2hr 51min 30.6sec
    9 Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroen C3 WRC 2hr 53min 49.1sec
    10 Fabio Andolfi /Simone Scattolin Skoda Fabia R5 2hr 54min 34.9sec
  • Sebastien Ogier leads by 33 seconds; Loeb crashes out in Tour de Corse

    Sebastien Ogier leads by 33 seconds; Loeb crashes out in Tour de Corse

    Ogier after taking the lead on Friday. Photo: FIA

    Corsica, April 6: After the repeated afternoon stages on the opening day of the 2018 Tour de Corse, Sebastien Ogier has extended his advantage and now heads Thierry Neuville by 33.6 seconds on Friday.

    The Frenchman won all but one of the day’s four stages and has a comfortable lead over his nearest Championship rival as the crews head into the longest day of the rally on Saturday. The fight behind the second-placed Belgian is however intense with Kris Meeke just 5.1 seconds further adrift in third and Ott Tanak 5.5 more seconds behind in fourth.

    Ogier has reigned supreme and has had a virtually totally trouble-free run and was able to start pulling out a clear advantage when Sebastien Loeb retired after going off the road this morning.

    Neuville, third going into the afternoon stages, was able to move ahead of Kris Meeke in the first of the repeated tests, second fastest through the long 49 kilometre stage aiding his charge. He maintained position through the final stage, pushing hard to stay ahead of a chasing Meeke.

    The Northern Irish driver once again suffered with a faulty intercom this afternoon but was happy with his day in the C3 WRC. Tanak heads Toyota’s challenge in fourth, the Estonian admitting he was playing with a few settings in his first outing in the Yaris WRC on asphalt.

    Toyota team-mate Esapekka Lappi has upped the pace this afternoon and had a great final stage, taking the fastest time in his first drive in a World Rally Car in Corsica. He is fifth albeit nearly 30 seconds adrift of Tanak.

    Behind the Finn, there is a big battle with four other drivers; Elfyn Evans is chasing hard and only three-tenths of a second behind Lappi, Dani Sordo sits a further six-tenths of a second away and previous Tour de Corse winner Jari-Matti Latvala is eighth and again within striking distance of his rivals. Andreas Mikkelsen is a close ninth and Bryan Bouffier rounds off the top 10.

    In the FIA WRC 2 Championship category, the fight is between Jan Kopecky and Yohan Bonato, the rivals split by 20.8 seconds at the end of a long day of competition in the mountains. The FIA Junior WRC Championship is headed by Terry Folb, the Frenchman 10.9 seconds ahead of Jean-Baptiste Franceschi.

    Tour de Corse – Unofficial classification after Section 2

    1 Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 1hr 19min 39.0sec
    2 Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 1hr 20min 12.6sec
    3 Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroen C3 WRC 1hr 20min 17.7sec
    4 Ott Tanak / Martin Jarveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 1hr 20min 23.2sec
    5 Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 1hr 20min 52.5sec
    6 Elfyn Evans / Phil Mills Ford Fiesta WRC 1hr 20min 52.8sec
    7 Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Couple WRC 1hr 20min 53.4sec
    8 Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 1hr 21min 04.0sec
    9 Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 WRC 1hr 21min 08.2sec
    10 Bryan Bouffier / Xavier Panseri Ford Fiesta WRC 1hr 21min 23.8sec
  • Gaurav Gill: Switching tracks for betterment of Indian rallying

    Gaurav Gill: Switching tracks for betterment of Indian rallying

    Gaurav Gill as the TC marshal giving countdown ahead of a timed lap on the last day of the ADA programme in Coimbatore. Photo – Anand Philar

    By Anand Philar

    Bengaluru, March 30: Like a hitherto dormant volcano slowly coming to life, there are rumblings within Gaurav Gill who is all set to burst forth with a plethora of initiatives and activities while giving wings to his fledgling driving academy which is founded on his intense passion for the sport and an all-consuming desire to contribute to the sport in the best way that he can.

    As in his motorsport career, Gill, a restless soul even otherwise, is seeking to move up to the next level that will not only provide a platform to the businessman in him but also help share his experience with the hope that at least one more talent emerges to follow his footsteps.

    “I will be happy and proud to see another Indian on the international rally circuit and win laurels,” said the triple Asia Pacific Rally Championship title winner, in the course of several conversations over two days that I spent with him in Coimbatore where he held another round of his Advanced Driving Academy programme, in conjunction with Chettinad Sporting.

    With his own rallying career struggling to progress from regional to World stage even after proving over and over again that he belongs to the elite group of rally drivers on the planet, Gill, now on a strict diet and looking leaner than last year, has decided to channel his frustrations rather than drown in them.

    Competing against and beating the best of factory-supported European drivers with WRC exposure and seat time as his MRF team-mates, Gill won the APRC title thrice in 2013, 2016 and 2017. Through it all, he hoped and prayed that his achievements will give him a leg up to the WRC stage. Gradually, when the wait prolonged, he realized that it was best for him to focus on the “attainable”.

    ADVANCED DRIVING ACADEMY

    “Like my driving, I too have evolved as a person. I am at peace with myself and the World at large after realizing that it was pointless for me to fret about things beyond my control. If I am destined to move to the World Rally Championship scene, then it will happen, and until then, I don’t even want to talk or think about it, because it is pointless. I have to move on,” he said, while deftly steering my car through the Coimbatore traffic.

    The Advanced Driving Academy is probably a logical step forward. “Through the academy I can share my knowledge and contribute to at least raising the level of rally driving in India,” he added, though it meant getting even busier while still finding time to be with his young family, especially his two boys, the elder of whom is already showing evidence of his father’s driving genes in him!

    DABBLING IN BOLLYWOOD AND MODELING!

    At 36, Gill is a dealer for Royal Enfield bikes in his hometown New Delhi; has invested in mining property in Goa; is all set to launch a Rally Park sometime in late April; has taken up modeling assignments for a leading fashion designer in Mumbai; will soon be driving premium luxury cars in Bollywood films; working on plans to start pan-India franchise academies for beginners. system. On top of all this, there is this small matter of rallying!

    As for his entry into Bollywood, he said: “I will be driving some top-end luxury cars for scenes in some films. Some of these scenes will be shot at the BIS (Buddh International Circuit, Noida). The modeling shoots will also be happening pretty soon.”

    “Yes, my plate is getting filled up, but then, I have look ahead to my post-retirement (from motorsport) life too,” he said with a distant and dreamy look.

    ADA – LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION FOR INDIANS

    Retirement at 36 when he has barely tickled the tip of his potential as a rally driver? When I told him he would be driving competitively even 20 years from now, for, after all, rally drivers get better with age, he responded with a happy chuckle.

    “Perhaps, but who knows? For the moment, I am keen that my academy takes off in a big way. It is not just the commercial thing, but like I said, I have the knowledge and experience to share with my compatriots. The Indian rally drivers are generally fast, but there is more to competitive driving than just speed. They can getter better if they iron out certain technical flaws, and that is what I hope to do.

    “It is not just about the pace, but there is a lot of science to driving, understanding the limits of the car beside yourself. These are some of the aspects that I dwell on during the training sessions. Also, the academy is a far less expensive option than going abroad to attend driving schools,” said Gill as he shared his vision.

    “When I look back on my career, I wish I had an Indian driver with international achievements I could have looked up to and learned from. There was no such icon at that time. I can say without being falsely modest that I have achieved something internationally and in a position to share my experience with young Indian drivers who are trying to make a mark. I started the academy since I am still very much active and fairly well known rather than wait until retirement after which you will be forgotten,” he said.

    Further, the academy offers plenty of options and packages depending on the trainee’s budget, beginning with “arrive and drive” where a fully-prepped Rally car along with fuel, tyres and service back-up is offered for hire to bringing one’s own vehicle and merely hiring the support system.

    THE RALLY PARK

    Besides the ADA, Gill’s other major project is the Rally Park in his hometown Delhi that will be thrown open to all-comers with a formal launch in April.
    The Rally Park facilities include:

    • 3 Kms of Rally track with timed lap option and available for rent
    • 1 Kms of Grade B motocross track
    • Off-roading zone for SUVs
    • Karting zone

    “The Rally Park is on a 15-acre plot and open to people across all age-groups, from eight to 80, besides Corporates and manufacturers who wish to test their products. Also, as we go along, I want to start academies on a franchise basis to tap the talent at the grassroots level. These franchise units will train beginners. There are so many youngsters around who wish to get into rallying and these franchise academies will help them get a start,” he explained, shedding light on his future plans for expansion.

    The two days at the ADA in Coimbatore was certainly an eye-opener in many ways. If anything, it gave driving a totally different perspective. Those who attended the sessions were unanimous that they benefitted hugely from Gill’s inputs and shared his belief that there was more to Rally driving than just pedal-to-metal.

  • Ogier-Ingrassia claim 4th Rally Mexico win: WRC

    Ogier-Ingrassia claim 4th Rally Mexico win: WRC

    Seb Ogier and Ingrassia win Mexico Rally on Sunday. An FIA image

    Reigning FIA World Rally Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia claimed a fourth Rally Mexico win today to retake the lead in the Championship. After a determined fight from the start, the Ford Fiesta WRC crew ultimately crossed the finish line with over a minute in hand to Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio. This was also the first time a Ford has won in Mexico since Markko Martin raised the trophy in 2004. Sordo moved into second in the day’s opening stage when Kris Meeke ran wide and toppled his C3 WRC on its side; he and co-driver Paul Nagle managed to continue but dropped to third in the process.

    In the FIA World Rally Championship, Ogier takes a four-point advantage over arch rival Thierry Neuville, the Belgian enduring a nightmare weekend running first on the road. Andreas Mikkelsen, Kris Meeke and Jari-Matti Latvala are closely matched in third, fourth and fifth respectively. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Hyundai continues to top the leaderboard and takes a 12-point lead over M-Sport Ford after three rounds. Citroën is just one point adrift with Toyota fourth.

    Today’s itinerary included just three stages, the long 24 kilometre Alfaro stage and then two runs through Las Minas, the second one counting as the all-important Power Stage. Ogier led into the day and was faultless through the first two stages, saving tyres for a push for additional championship points. He initially claimed four for second fastest, but after the Stewards deemed he did not go around the elements of a chicane correctly he was penalised 10 seconds. The penalty had no effect on his overall result, but docked him of the Power Stage points. Sordo moved into second on the first stage when, in similar style to last year, Meeke had a final day moment. The Northern Irishman slid wide and ended up in a deep gully with the car on its side. Fortunately he was able to get the C3 WRC back on the road but he lost over 30 seconds to the Spaniard and slipped to third overall.

    Andreas Mikkelsen brought his i20 Coupe home in fourth after clouting a bank in the second stage and admitted it was good points in the bag during a weekend when he was not really on the pace. Nine times FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb picked up points for fifth overall after a stunning return to the WRC and his first gravel rally since 2013. The Frenchman will be back in action on the next round in Corsica, again partnering Meeke. Neuville finished sixth after a torrid weekend but he picked up an additional three points in the Power Stage, helping him maintain a close watch on Ogier in the Championship standings. Jari-Matti Latvala finished the highest of the Toyota runners in eighth.

    In the FIA WRC 2 Championship, Pontus Tidemand took victory by an enormous margin over Gus Greensmith and, in the FIA WRC 3 Championship, although Tom Williams completed the final stage he retired on the road section back to service.

    The FIA World Rally Championship now returns to Europe for Rallye de France-Tour de Corse (5-8 April).

    Rally Mexico – Final Provisional Classification

    1.   Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 3hr 54min 08.0sec
    2.   Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 55min 11.6sec
    3.   Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 3hr 55min 27.2sec
    4.   Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 3hr 55min 46.4sec
    5.   Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena Citroën C3 WRC 3hr 56min 32.6sec
    6.   Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 4hr 03min 11.0sec
    7.   Pontus Tidemand / Jonas Andersson Škoda Fabia R5 4hr 04min 32.7sec
    8.   Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 4hr 09min 45.1sec
    9.   Gus Greensmith / Craig Parry Ford Fiesta R5 4hr 11min 17.3sec
    10. Pedro Heller / Pablo Olmos Ford Fiesta R5 4hr 18min 26.1sec