Pune’s Takale set for World Rally C’ship debut in Finland
MUMBAI: Pune-based seasoned rally driver Sanjay Takale will be making his World Rally Championship (Wrc-3)debut at the Neste Rally to be held in Finland from July 26 to 29.
In what may be termed the biggest breakthrough of his career, Takale has been roped in by Latvia-based Baltic Motorsports Promotion as one of its two drivers for the rally. He will team-up with British driver Darren Garrod and drive a Wrc-registered Ford Fiesta car during the rally.
“Finland rally is considered mother of all rallies. There are a lot of jumps on the track, and the terrain is unique. This is also the most technical high speed rally in WRC. I would love to finish it for sure and finish well,” the 50-year-old Takale told reporters here on Friday.
Takale also said that he is the first-ever registered Indian driver who would be competing in the WRC rally. “I will be the first registered Indian to drive in WRC 3. Though Gaurav Gill has participated in WRC, he is not registered.”
In the lead up to the Finland rally, Takale competed in Rally Tallinn in Estonia, which is a candidate venue for the WRC next year, and Rally Latvia with decent finishes. He will be joined in Finland rally by compatriot and MRF driver Gaurav Gill, who will be competing in WRC 2 category.
WRC is a rallying series organised by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’automobile) since 1973. In every season, 13 rallies take place on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Each rally consists of 15-25 stages.
FORMER CHAMPION NIBALI RULED OUT
L’ALPE D’HUEZ, FRANCE: Former champion Vincenzo Nibali was forced out of the Tour de France on Thursday after fracturing his back in a collision during a drama-packed 12th stage to the summit of Alpe d’huez, his Bahrain team doctor confirmed.
Nibali, who claimed his sole yellow jersey in 2014, was transported to hospital with a suspected vertebra fracture after coming down hard around 4km from the summit of the legendary Tour climb.