Gill sets up FIA Junior WRC showdown after repelling Türkkan in Finland

Australian star Gill held off a hard-charging Ali Türkkan to win by 2.1sec on Sunday in what was the closest finish so far this season. Türkkan, who briefly led on Saturday, was the fastest of the two through Sunday, having initially started the four-stage finale 19.3sec in arrears.

Just 24 hours previously, Gill had languished down in eighth after dropping around a minute with a puncture but fought back up the order with a sublime drive to reclaim the top spot on Saturday night.

Gill’s result, coupled with the crash of Romet Jürgenson, means that the title race remains wide open heading into the season finale at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece next month. With double classification points up for grabs on the Lamia-based fixture, a multitude of drivers stand a mathematical chance of claiming the title.

“This is something that will stick with me for the rest of my life, that’s for sure,” said Gill, who relocated to Finland last year to advance his rallying career. “To win such an iconic rally on our first attempt means so much, especially now that we live here.”

Jürgenson made up for his day one crash by salvaging 10 Wolf Stage Win points but saw his lead slashed from 25 to 12 points, with Gill now his closest championship challenger.

Tom Rensonnet trailed Türkkan by more than 1min 30sec but held off Petr Borodin, who dropped out of the lead due to a puncture on Saturday, to fill the final podium spot. Borodin ended 27.0sec further back after spinning and subsequently stalling his M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 this morning.

Fabio Schwarz netted his best result to date in fifth, while Ireland’s Eamonn Kelly overcame a high-speed excursion into a field to finish sixth.