Hyderabad

Gill, the reigning Asia Pacific Champion had a spectacular 2016, winning all five rounds of the APRC to set a new record, received the trophy from Jean Todt, the president of FIA (Le Federation Internationale de l’Automobile). A packed banquet hall stood up in unison to applaud his feat. 

“It’s an honour to receive the trophy from Mr Todt, one of the legends in the world of racing,” Gill, who has already won the trophy twice earlier,  said in his acceptance speech. “I will have to win it again and again so that it stays in my cabinet,” he quipped, referring to the fact that it’s a rolling trophy. 

The awards giving ceremony, an annual feature in the Federation of Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI), was organised at a much more lavish scale this year under the stewardship of its recently elected president Akbar Ibrahim. 

FIA president Todt, the brain and power behind Ferrari’s much feared Formula One team, couldn’t stop marvelling at India’s amazing culture and fascinating traditions. 

“You are a country of over a billion people. We have a great challenge ahead of us. But it provides us so many wonderful opportunities too,” he declared. 

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