PG Abhilash of Kochi and Musa Sherif of Kasargod have won the first APRC podium, earning them the distinction of being first Indian crew to win FIA Asia Pacific rally championship podium. The Duo took part in International Rally of Johor 2018, held on July 21-22 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia round of FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2018 and finished overall 3rd in APRC and 1st in APRC2 and 2nd in FIA APRC Asia Cup.
Musa, also the president of Indian Motor Sports Club (IMSC) in an e-mail from Malaysia said this is the first time an all Indian crew is finishing on the podium of 30 years of FIA APRC history. The duo participated in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI Rally car of Speedline Industries Malaysia.
"Malaysian Round of APRC is considered to be toughest in the calendar with the narrow and technical stages and extreme weather conditions," Abhilash said.
"I had to drive the road section to service park after three special stages on day 1. Since Abhilash was dehydrated by the extreme hot weather conditions here in Johor," said five-time National champion Musa. The stages were very slippery throughout the event and slushy at some places. We used Gravel MRF tyres which gave us superior performance advantage in the event, and help us said through these tricky stages," Abhilash added.
Abhilash-Musa would have finished overall first in the rally championship, if not for a mechanical failure. "It was unfortunate in SS 5 of day 1, the front left drive shaft broke and car spun in a tight right turn on exit when we were on full gas and landed in right side drain and got stuck. At this point we were leading with more than 3 minutes and got penalties for missing out SS5 and SS6 of day 1 which would have made a dream result," Musa said.
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