Gaurav Gill set for Rally of Australia this weekend

India's top rally driver Gaurav Gill will be back on familiar territory when he returns to Rally of Australia, final round of prestigious FIA World Rally Championship this weekend. Gill, a three-time APRC champion and Arjuna Awardee, h taken part in WRC2 of this rally last year too and h come up with an impressive performance.

37-year-old Indian, donning JK Racing colours internationally with Macneall Glenn as his co-driver, me his debut as a registered driver in Rally of Turkey and looked set for a Top 5 finish in his category. But mechanical problems hurt him on almost each of four days, eventually depriving him of opportunity to excel on world st.

On final day, with just 5 kms left to finish rally, his R5 WRC2 car gave in after a gearbox failure. He missed Rally of Wales in between and is w set for Kennards Hire Rally Australia from vember 14 to 17. "I have h very good testing here over last few days. I have me a lot of changes to chassis and handling of car and I have a good feeling about new car," Gill said from New South Wales, shortly after a practice run.

"I can't wait to start rally, since I've been here and have h top times in past I'm confident of a positive result too.

"I'm loving all support from rally fans in India as well as many well wishers on social media," he ded.

Going by his last year's performance and field, Gaurav stands a very good chance of making podium. He needs to make sure that he completes rally to become first Indian to achieve this feat. Rally of Australia, however, may be shortened due to raging fire in forest sts around city of Coffs Coast, New South Wales.

organisers anunced that y were in consultation with emergency services, authorities and local community and would take a final call soon. y were confident of staging WRC on all four days, even if it's a shorter affair. Gill was involved in a serious car accident which left three people de during Jodhpur round of Indian National Rally Championship in September.