Team MRF-Skoda’s Fabian Kreim negotiates a curve at the Super Special Stage of the International Rally of Whangarei on Friday.
Team MRF-Skoda’s Fabian Kreim negotiates a curve at the Super Special Stage of the International Rally of Whangarei on Friday.
Debutant racer Fabian Kreim took a slender 1.2-second lead over team-mate Gaurav Gill as Team MRF-Skoda topped the time charts in the Super Special Stage of the International Rally of Whangarei, the first round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship here on Friday.
The German, at the end of the 1.45km long first stage, clocked a time of 54.3s, having an advantage of 2.4s over Gill. But the Delhi-based 34-year-old Gill bounced back in the second stage, clocking 49.9s to Kreim’s 51.1s, to shorten the lead of his team-mate, to half.
However, the result could change, giving Gill the advantage, as the incident between the Indian and Young is under investigation. “During the first run, we were stopped as Mike Young who had started before us, was stranded on a right-hander,” said Gill.
“As soon as we stopped, we were asked to proceed. That cost us time. We will be the first car out and so, will be sweeping the Stages, he added”
Driving the Subaru Impreza, Team Peddars’ Scott Pedder (with Dale Moscatt) was third, a full six seconds behind, from the leader Kreim.
Another Indian in the fray, Sanjay Takale finished fourth in his Subaru, 11.8s off Kreim, as team-mate Young couldn’t get going owing to electrical issue, hoping to be back on Day 2.
Saturday will see further eight stages, with the final day having six more stages, to round up the event.
Results (Provisional – Super Special Stage): 1. Fabian Kreim / Frank Christian (Team MRF-SKODA, Skoda Fabia R5) (01minute, 45.4secs); 2. Gaurav Gill / Glenn Macneall (Team MRF-SKODA, Skoda Fabia R5) (01:46.6); 3. Scott Pedder / Dale Moscatt (Team Pedders Suspension, Subaru Impreza WRX STi) (01:51.4).
