Force Gurkha RFC India 2016 championship winners won first position at the International 2016 RFC Grand Finals held in Malaysia. The Indian Team not only became the first ever team to successfully complete the Grand Final of the RFC Global Series and but also emerged on top in their category at the 20th edition of one of the toughest motor races in the world.
Overall, Team India finished 11th in the championship as the duo achieved the top spot in the under-3,050 cc diesel category at the RFC 2016 Grand Final accumulating 1,361 points out of 2,400 attainable points. Comparatively new to such international off-roading competition, the Indian team proved their mettle against some of the seasoned campaigner in the competition. This win also turns out to be more special due to the fact that the duo was competing in a hired vehicle which they had not even seen a few days before the competition began.
Winning the Indian leg of the 2016 RFC in July, the Indian Team got an automatic entry in the RFC 2016 Grand Final in Malaysia. Gurmeet was in his second expedition in the international arena but it was Kirpal’s first ever international off-road competition experience. Back in 2014, Gurmeet was a co-driver for the first ever foray of Indian team in the international competition, but was taking the wheel this year with Kirpal beside him.
On winning the 20th edition of the motorsport, Gurmeet said, “Kirpal and I had decided before coming to Malaysia that we had to concentrate on preserving our vehicle and staying in the competition till the end. Though we definitely dreamt of winning, our focus throughout the week was on avoiding penalties and vehicle breakdown. Now that the final results have been announced, I am finding it hard to believe that our dream has come true. The feeling is yet to sink in!”
