ETS claims first major victory in Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific Rally Championship [APRC] - Whangarei, New Zealand
14 April, 2014

 

 

Reigning Asia Pacific Rally champions Guarev Gill and Team MRF Skoda claimed victory in the opening round of the 2014 Championship, battling hard across the two-day International Rally of Whangarei in New Zealand to defeat team-mate - European Rally champion - Jan Kopecky by just under 12-seconds.

Whilst the victory saw a Team MRF Skoda 1-2, it also provided new technical partner ETS Racing Fuels with their first major victory in the Asia-Pacific region, on debut!

“ETS Racing Fuel have had a strong association with the Skoda factory in the European Rally Championship, having helped the Czechoslovakian manufacturer to victories in both the European Rally Championship and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in recent years, but this was the first time the fuel had been used in Asia,” ETS Racing Fuel’s Simon Ingram confirmed.

“In association with Race Torque Engineering, we tested the fuel to ensure its compatibility with the two Team MRF Skoda Fabias and were rewarded with an outstanding result, in the end they were clear winners by more than eight minutes over their opponents.”

Factory Skoda pilot Kopecky dominated day one, winning five of the six stages to lead team-mate Gill by more than 23 seconds, the reigning champion forced to lead the field out all day and clear the way for Kopecky.

Day two though saw an incredible fight-back. Gill, joined by co-driver Glenn Macneall, reduced the gap from Kopecky during the morning loop of stages to move into the lead before the lunch-time service.
 

After 13 special stages, only 10 seconds separated the pair with one final stage to go, but Gill took advantage of his New Zealand knowledge and won the stage by just over a second, extending his winning margin to 11.9 seconds.

“We’ve come close to winning here before but every year we’ve had some issue either technical or mechanical. But this time it was the best way to win; to come from the back, especially being down by 23 seconds and it was a massive amount of time to make up in this situation,” an elated Gill explained at the finish line.

“The most important thing is it was a level playing field for Kopecky and I. He is the European champion and I’m the defending [APRC] champion so it is good benchmark for me. Plus we had new stages [during] this rally and I had to push really hard. That’s what makes the win so much more exciting for me and the team.”

“We are happy with the result but second is a little disappointing because of losing that winning time on only one stage [Gill gained 25-seconds on the Springield stage]. But we had a really good fight all weekend so thanks a lot to Gaurav for that because you need to be pushed by an opponent to be able to improve.”

Australian Mark Pedder rounded out the podium in third, with fellow Australian, Tom Wilde - who also enjoyed his maiden APRC event - taking the two-wheel-drive win and clinching fourth overall late in the day.

The APRC now moves to New Caledonia for the second round of the championship on May 16-17, before heading to the International Rally of Queensland in June [20-22].

Results VINZ International Rally of Whangarei

1. Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL), Skoda Fabia S2000, 2hr11m39.7s

2. Jan Kopecky (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE), Skoda Fabia S2000, +11.9s

3. Mark Pedder (AUS)/Claire Dowling (AUS), Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X, +8m22.6

4. Tom Wilde (AUS)/Bill Hayes (AUS), Renault Clio CAMS G2, +12m38.8

5. Jun Xu (CHN)/Sheng Liu (CHN), Skoda Fabia S-2000-R, +12m54.6

6. Michael Young (NZL)/Erin Kelly (AUS), Proton Satria Neo, +17m53.6

7. Sanjay Takale (IND)/Sean Gregory (MYS), Subaru Impreza, +22m20.3

2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship

Sriver points after round one (provisional).


1. Gaurav Gill (IND) - 38,
2. Jan Kopecky (CZE) - 31,
3. Mark Pedder (AUS) - 25,
4. Tom Wilde (AUS) - 19,
5. Jun Xu (CHN) - 17,
6. Michael Young (NZL) - 12,
7. Sanjay Takale (IND) - 8