Gill powers to lead in K-1000

BANGALORE: Strong contender Gaurav Singh Gill of Team MRF was at his roaring best in his Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia on the opening day of the K-1000 on Saturday, powering his way to a 38-second lead over his team-mate Amittrajit Ghosh (Ashwin Naik).
While Gill negotiated the treacherous terrain well, there 20 casualties after six special stages at Siddlaghatta, the venue of the fourth round of the Speed Indian National Rally Championship.
A record 41 cars rolled off the ramp in the 37th edition of the K-1000 but the very first special stage saw veteran Arjun Balu (co-driver Sujith Kumar ) suffer a setback as their car came to a halt when the drive-shaft gave way.
Arjun Rao Aroor of Castrol-supported AR Racing, the only competition to MRF, encountered a gear box problem in SS3, leaving the other MRF cars with the chance to enjoy the monopoly of the podium.
"I will be cautious and will do my best to bring the car home," said Gill, who touched speeds of over 150kmph.