Gill slides Skoda home for rally win

 

 

India’s Gaurav Gill and Australian based co-driver Glenn Macneall have won the 2016 International Rally of Whangarei by 30.4 seconds in the MRF Tyres Skoda Fabia R5.

Concluding the opening round (of six) for the 2016 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), last Sunday’s action used gravel roads to the south of Whangarei.

Tackling six special stages, overnight rain and passing isolated showers dampened the road surface.

Gill, the 2013 APRC champion and 2014 rally winner started second car on the road for the day, behind overnight leader and teammate Fabian Kreim. Overtaking the 4.6 second deficit in the opening test, Gill pushed hard in the second run to extend his margin.

Finishing second, Germany’s Kreim and countryman co-driver Frank Christian were pleased with the result.

Third was Kiwi pairing Michael Young and co-driver Malcolm Read in the Cusco-prepared EZY Racing Subaru Impreza.

While breakdowns spoiled their overall chances in this event, WRC Rally Argentina winner Hayden Paddon and John Kennard had a clean run in their New Zealand specification Hyundai i20 winning all six stages of the final day, much to the delight of fans passionate on seeing him on local roads.

The series now moves to Australia for the second round, the International Rally of Queensland, June 17-19.

LEADER: Gill and Macneall push the Skoda Fabia R5 to the finish line, their second New Zealand win. – PHOTO/Geoff Ridder.