Defending champion Gaurav Gill secured second position in the second round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) even as his Team MRF Skoda driver and European Rally Champion Jan Kopecky clinched the victory, here today.
However, both the drivers are under investigation for postponing the start of Stage 13 as what they thought were unsafe conditions. After two rounds, Kopecky and Gill are joint leaders.
Gill was comfortably leading yesterday before an accident caused him suspension damage. Driving Skoda Fabia S2000, Kopecky was in the driver's seat with a five-minute lead heading into day two.
Two stages were cancelled on Saturday, and SS12 was cancelled this morning. Then news came that the last three stages would also not be held as conditions were so bad that the safety car also could not get through.
Both drivers felt the conditions were impossible to drive in and hence requested for safer conditions before resuming.
"I have to say I didn't enjoy my driving so much, with so much mud. One stage I liked it was in the North, more like a proper stage, the rest was like driving over the fields in the mud, I didn't enjoy so much. Our gap (today) was quite huge, so I didn't want to make a mistake," Kopecky said.
"There was no pressure and I was relaxed in the car, there was one stage in the North I enjoyed and each time I was able to go quicker than Gaurav, so it was good for us. We are now on equal points with Gaurav, that's good for championship. If you have a close battle from the start its always better."
Gill rued the fact that his mistake yesterday cost him the win but was happy to salvage 2nd place.
"We had a good lead and a healthy margin, but unfortunately we got caught out by the conditions yesterday and found a tree on the exit of a corner, wasn't so good for the car and we bent a suspension arm.
"Glenn (Macneall) and I had to do some repairs, the drive the last stage very conservatively. We're happy to finished the day yesterday and today fastest of the day, so maximum points in the kitty - the best I could have done."
The next round of the 2014 APRC is the International Rally of Queensland which will take place next month.
