Indian race driver Gaurav Gill said he is hoping for a good turnout at the fifth and final round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championships, to be held in Chikamagalur from the 24th-26th November.
The four earlier rounds were held in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Malaysia.
“It’s great that we are fighting out the last rally in India. I hope to see a lot of people to come see the finale. Just because it is the last round, a lot of people miss the finale because the point tally of their team is not relevant anymore. I wish more people come and support it,” he said, at an event in Bangalore on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old, who will enter the final round as the defending champion, said he would settle for nothing less than a win, but was aware of the competition in front of him.
“Absolutely. That is what we are all racing for. I am not here to come second. I have always wanted to come out on top, but this is a very competitive sport. It is just not about competition. It is about excelling at the sport as well, which is very technical and difficult.”
“This rally has been evolving a lot since the time it began in 2013 and 2014. The stages in the competition were really short, from then to now, they have become wider. Every year, we are making new base slots. It doesn’t help to have just five rallies every year, but with whatever we have we will make the most of it,” he added.
Talking about his biggest competitor ahead of the finale, he said, “Oley Christian Veiby , my teammate at the rally will be my main competition. Both of us are tied in the series and whoever is going to win the rally will become the champion.”