Medan, Indonesia: The prestigious Sumatera Utara Rally, marking the third round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship's (APRC) Asia Cup section, will see three-time champion Gaurav Gill leading India's formidable challenge from August 8 to 10.
Team JK Tyre and Vamcy Merla Motorsports are fielding a five-car contingent from India, positioning Gill as the hot favourite. Competitive drivers from Asia Cup and Pacific Cup will seek to secure their spots for the APRC title showdown in Japan later this year.
Gaurav Gill, an Arjuna awardee, holds the distinction of being the only driver in APRC history to clinch all rounds in a single season back in 2016. However, as he strives to reclaim his supremacy on Indonesia’s challenging terrains, he anticipates stiff competition from local talents and emerging stars, especially in wet conditions.
This endeavor represents India’s most significant factory-backed entry in APRC history, fortified by support from Vamcy Merla and Lokesh Gowda, the driving force behind the Indian National Autocross Championship.
The Indian squad is set to make an impression in the rally’s 12-stage, 200.6-kilometre course that weaves through jungle paths and volcanic gravel. Vamcy Merla, who also serves as the APRC promoter, has facilitated the import of two top-tier international rally-spec cars for this effort.
Vicky Chandhok, president of the APRC Working Group, expresses delight over the participation: “Nothing makes me happier than seeing such a strong representation from India and a robust grid of 15 cars, which bodes well for APRC.”
Gill partners with co-driver Florian Barral as part of the JK Tyre entries, while Goa’s Vaibhav Marathe teams up with seasoned Ashwin Naik. The other drivers from VM Motorsports include M Bopaiah with PV Srinivasa, Abin Rai with Srikanth Gowda, and Nikeeta Takkale, who is paired with Sudheendra BG.
Nikeeta Takkale will compete in a two-wheel drive car, participating in the Ladies, Junior, and RC4 categories of the APRC. Following Friday's ceremonial start, the rally, which runs concurrently with the Indonesian Rally Championship round, features six challenging special stages on both Saturday and Sunday.
Totaling a special stage distance of 154.14 kilometres and a transport segment of 46.46 kilometres, the rally covers a combined distance of roughly 200 kilometres. The upcoming APRC round is set to be held in China.
Reflecting on the endeavor, Merla stated, “This five-car initiative underlines our commitment to nurturing rally talent across the board. Each driver, from Gill in his hunt for a title to Nikeeta in the Ladies Cup campaign, receives top-tier support.” The initiative aims at providing superior international machinery like the Skoda Fabia R2 evo and Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo to Team JK Tyre, empowering top Indian drivers to excel globally.
Sanjay Sharma, head of motorsport at JK Tyre, added, “This ambitious five-car engagement, especially with the addition of international-spec Skoda and Ford cars via our collaboration with Vamcy Merla Motorsports, marks an exciting new chapter for Team JK Tyre.”
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