After winning the Indian leg of the 2016 Rain Forest Challenge (RFC) in July, Gerrari Offroaders, Gurmeet Virdi and Kirpal Singh Tung will represent India at the finals of the 2016 RFC, in Malaysia. The final will be held from 25th November to 5th December, where competitors from around the globe will compete for the glory at the 20th edition of Rainforest Challenge Grand Final, which is one of the toughest off-road motor races in the world.
The final round in Malaysia concludes the Global RFC Series, which are held in 25 different countries like Australia, Russia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Korea, Myanmar, Ukraine, Balkans, South Europe and North Europe among others. The event was introduced in India only in 2014, and despite being only three editions of it, the Indian duo was able to accomplish an entry into the grand finale this year.
This is the second time that an Indian team would be competing in RFC Grand Final and it is also Gurmeet Virdi’s second attempt at this mega event. Back in 2014, he was the co-driver of the first ever Indian team that participated in RFC Grand Final. This year, however, Gurmeet will be competing as a driver, while Kirpal Tung will be supporting him as his navigator.
For the 20th edition of the RFC Grand Finale, twenty-four special stages (SS) will be divided into four progressively difficult competitive legs - the Prologue, the Predator, the Terminator and the Twilight Zone. For emerging victorious, competitors will need to demonstrate strength, endurance, driving and vehicle recovery skills under extreme off-road conditions. The team with the maximum points at the end of all the SS will be announced as the winner.
Unlike the Indian leg, where they had a whole support team, the final will allow only a support team of two mechanics. The duo will have to fend for themselves throughout the competition. As Gurmeet recalls the 2014 experience where they faced a lot of issues and had to give up due to vehicle failure. Therefore, after an extensive research for the car, they have settled for Suzuki Samurai with a 3000cc turbocharged engine, which is compliant to the RFC specifications. The confidence is high since, in the RFC India stage, they beat the team who has won RFC Grand Final multiple times.
Luis J.A. Wee, founder of the Rainforest Challenge said, “It’s really wonderful to see our current RFC India champion making it to the mother event RFC in Malaysia. I am very sure that the skills that Gurmeet & Kirpal have displayed in Goa will be put to good use competing against the other internationals. They are also both very cool players, and such traits plus their improved driving and recovery skills will add to their advantage. So, good luck and best wishes to our Indian champion team.”
