Aussie Gill keen to impress on more familiar tarmac
Australian rising star Taylor Gill is keen to make an impression in Round 2 of the Junior World Rally Championship in Croatia.
Gill and co-driver Dan Brkic received a tough welcome to JWRC by taking on the Swedish snow and ice for the first time.
The all Aussie combination were fighting up the front before a double puncture ruined their chances.
They eventually recovered to eighth as Gill gained some valuable knowledge behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta Rally3.
Since the rally in February, Gill and Brkic have put in many hours of training on tarmac in order to refine their pace note system, as well as improving their speed through the never-ending corners that they will face this week.
Having had the challenge of the Swedish snow, Gill is looking forward to taking on tarmac for the first time since September.
“Croatia is a place we’ve spent some time in before, but have never rallied on these roads,” Gill explained.
“Dan and I have been to Croatia for pace note practice, so I’ve got a bit of an idea of the characteristics of the event.
“We’re probably a little underdone coming into the event; our last time in a rally car on tarmac was the Nova Gorica Rally way back in September last year, so the pre-event test will be crucial.
“Getting the setup right will be our main aim in the test and shakedown, so we’re ready for the first stage of the rally.”
Gill revealed there were still plenty of positives to take away from Sweden.
“Sweden’s performance was something we were really impressed with, but unfortunately we weren’t able to get the result we wanted,” Gill said.
“It was our first rally on snow and ice and to be right on the pace from the beginning was a real positive for us.”
Gill will be racing alongside the World Rally Championship stars at Rally Croatia which begins with a Shakedown tonight.
Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday the rally will run over 20 special stages across nearly 300 kilometres.
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