Three-time APRC champion Gaurav Gill found himself in the middle of a controversy today over a report alleging misstatements in the application for the Arjuna Award. The point of contention is a line in the Annexure which states that he won 11 stages in the FIA WRC.
The FMSCI, Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, has hit back strongly calling the article, “A malicious, motivated report,” and denouncing it, “in the strongest terms possible as it is meant to mislead people who don’t understand motorsports.”
The secretary general of the FMSCI, Rajan Syal said, “Gaurav’s application categorically mentioned that he took part in the WRC2 category of the World Rally Championship in 2018. And yes, he won 11 stages in it. Quite ironically, the writer himself states this while also furnishing the proof!”
The results of the rally in question, the Kennards Hire Rally Australia, also highlight that he set the fastest times among all the R5 cars entered in the rally. Syal adds, “For those who don’t believe mischief-mongers and trouble makers, and rightly so, here is the proof of Gaurav’s wins, straight from the official site.”
The results can be viewed here:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/entryinfo/44266-kennards-hire-rally-australia-2018/2004665
Coming out strong in Gaurav Gill’s defence and stressing the technicality that the report harps on Rajan Syal adds, “GG beat the best in his class, driving a car with the same specifications. Simply because he was an unregistered driver, he is classified as an RC2 winner. This is a technical point that motorsports aficionados are aware of.”