Caloundra (Australia): The curse of Australia continued to haunt Team MRF’s Gaurav Gill as he failed to finish the International Rally of Queensland, the third round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) held in Caloundra on Sunday. Gill’s debutant teammate Pontus Tidemand won the title here on the final day. Gill, who was 28 seconds behind his Swedish teammate at the start of the Special Stage 16 New Million 2 was forced to withdraw after his engine blew out at the start-line.
Gill, who has failed to complete any race in Australia since 2012, was really upset but took the failure in his stride. “This is a very disappointing finish for me. I did so well right from the start but the engine just blew out. The car looked all fine as there were no warning signs. It just gave up right at the start-line. But that’s how motorsport is,” he said. Defending his decision to go into the rally with a new gear box and a new engine Gill said, “The changes were made according to the situation and the tracks. I don’t think the technical changes I made led to engine failure.”
Gill, who struggled in the Speedie Contractor South 2 stage on Saturday, had to recover from a flat tyre on Sunday in Speedie Contractor North 2 stage, which cost him 24 seconds. “Having a flat tyre while driving in mountain-terrain is rare. I guess it was just not my day,” Gill said. On the other hand, Tidemand was pleased with his performance. “I am really pleased with the way my car performed. It was very smooth and helped me give my 100 per cent. I am equally sad for Gaurav as the competition was going neck-and-neck and I was hoping for a close and strong fight till the end. But sadly it was not to be,” he said.
After the third leg, Tidemand is on top with 108 points while Gill occupies the second place with 74 points. The next leg of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship will be held between August 14 and 16 in Malaysia.
