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Asia Pacific Rally Championship: Arjuna awardee Gaurav Gill is all set to participate in the Otago Rally in New Zealand, scheduled to be held in Dunedin from April 12-14. Gill's entry in the event is being backed by Indian businessman Vamcy Merla, who is also a promoter of the Otago Rally, which is being held as a round of Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) 2024.

India’s fastest Rally driver, JK Tyre's Gill will take the place of 2022 APRC champion and 10-time Otago Rally winner Haydon Paddon and will be driving Paddon’s Hyundai i20 N Rally2. The four-wheel drive i20 N Rally2 weighs 1,230kg and is equipped with a 1.6 litre, turbo-charged engine, fitted to a 32mm air restrictor and a five-speed sequential gearbox, Gill's sponsors informed in a release on Tuesday.

The Otago Rally is amongst the most historic rally events in the world and has been held every year since 1976. Headlining a field of 117 cars, the Otago rally this year is the largest in four years.