Junior aprc

Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo: Hot favourite Gaurav Gill came out blazing at the Sumatera Utara Rally of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), winning the opening two stages in commanding fashion to establish a lead of nearly 30 seconds before cruel luck struck in Special Stage 3 with a mechanical failure that forced him to retire for the day, near here, on Saturday.

Bopaiah K.M. kept Indian hopes alive in the premier RC2 class. Making a comeback after six years, the Kodagu driver rolled back the years with flashes of his vintage form, ably guided by the seasoned P.V. Srinivas Murthy in the co-driver’s seat. Srinivasa Murthy’s wealth of experience and unerring pace-note calls ensured a measured yet competitive charge, as the pair navigated the demanding Sumatran terrain with poise and precision.

The setback left Nikeetaa Takkale, India’s only lady driver in the field here, as the day’s brightest spark. Competing in Indonesia for the first time, the Pune-based driver delivered a faultless performance and is on course for a rare triple podium in the third round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship’s (APRC) Asia Cup, held about 32 kilometres from Parapat.