MRF to enter WRC-2 with Gill

Indian tyre maker MRF on Monday confirmed their much-awaited entry into the FIA World Rally Championship-2 category with ace driver Gaurav Gill.

The switch to WRC-2 ends MRF's 16-year campaign in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship where it won nine titles including three with Gill.

“Team MRF is now foraying into the WRC 2 with Gaurav Gill at the wheel," said the tyre-maker in a statement, revealing very little about its latest venture.

The announcement means Gill finally gets to drive at a significantly higher level, something he was itching to do after the APRC success in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

WRC-2 is already underway with four of the 13 rounds already completed and it is not yet known whether Gill will join the championship from round five scheduled in Argentina from April 26-29.

"We hope to complete all the entry procedures by the end of the month. Thereafter, we will take a call on when to join the championship and which car Gill will drive," said a MRF official.

At the APRC, MRF had tied up with Czech car maker Skoda in the 2012 season with drivers behind the wheel of a S2000. It later moved to Skoda Fabia R5 in 2016.