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Gaurav Gill Set for Debut at Otago Rally New Zealand in Hyundai i20
The renowned JK Tyre rally driver and Arjuna awardee, Gaurav Gill has announced that he will be taking part in the Otago Rally in New Zealand. The races are scheduled for the 12,13 and 14 of April in Dunedin.
The Otago Rally is a part of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) which is known for its excitement and thrilling driving. Gaurav Gill's participation has been made possible through the support of Otago Rally Promoter, Vamcy Merla.
Gaurav Gill will be replacing 10-time Otago Rally winner and 2022 APRC champion Hayden Paddon and taking over his beautiful four-wheel drive Hyundai i20 N Rally2. This car is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine paired with a five-speed sequential gearbox and weighs a total of 1,230kg.
The Otago Rally has been a staple for rally racing since it started in 1976. This year will mark the largest turnout in four years, with a total of 117 cars expected to be participating over 16 timed sections spanning over 280km through mixed terrains of tarmac and gravel.
The Head-Motorsport at JK Tyre & Industries, Sanjay Sharma expressed his excitement about Gill's participation in the Otago Rally. Mr. Sharma spoke about the Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car's amazing track record and stated how confident they are in Gill's driving ability. JK Tyre is sure that the combination of Gill’s skill and the car’s capabilities will prove to be successful.
Gaurav Gill stated that he is excited to start his 2024 campaign strong after a gap year since his international appearance at the Rally of Greece last year. "I’m really looking forward to getting my 2024 campaign off to a strong start with the historic Otago Rally in New Zealand. I’m grateful to JK Tyre and Vamcy Merla for this opportunity. The Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 car I will be driving is a prospective winner and my goal is to extend this winning run into the year 2024.”
Vamcy Merla stated that he is glad to contribute to Indian Rallying wherever possible and his moves to promote Indians at international rallying events have already started getting results. With India’s best rally driver Gaurav Gill behind the wheel, Vamcy looks forward to seeing the Indian flag on the podium.
At the Otago Rally, Gill will go up against competition from rally drivers, including American Rally Champion Brandon Semenuk, local favorites such as Tim Smith and Andrew Graves, and international participants like Emma Gilmour, Ben Hunt, Robbie Stokes, and Jack Hawkeswood.
DriveSpark Thinks
It is exciting to see Gaurav Gill entering the APRC once again and this time in a new car. This will showcase Gill’s capable driving skills. Apparently from displaying Gill's talent, the time behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 Rally 2 will come in handy if Gill intends to race in the WRC again in the coming seasons.
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