The MRF Tyres M-Sport Fiesta R5 that Indian rally ace Gaurav Gill will be piloting for the 2018 season of the World Rally Championship-2 (WRC2) has been revealed ahead of Gill’s WRC2 debut at the Rally Italia Sardegna next week.

The distinctive red and white colours of Team MRF have been retained for the Indian tyre manufacturer’s non-priority R5 entry that will be run by the WRC winning M-Sport outfit. The MRF Tyres Fiesta R5 will be one of four cars M-Sport will service at Rally Italia Sardegna, alongside three WRC works cars.

Gill will drive the car alongside co-driver Glenn Macneall this season. For Macneall, who has competed in 100 WRC events, Rally Italia Sardegna is a return to MRF after several years competing with Gill in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

“It is a huge honour for me to represent Team MRF at World Rally Championship level,” said Gill.

“MRF tyres has evolved a lot over the years and being the best tyre manufacturer in the region, WRC is the best platform to showcase the product development.

“To achieve what no Indian tyre manufacturer has ever done before and compete in what it is considered to be the most difficult motorsport championship in the world, is a huge achievement.”

In addition to Rally Italia Sardegna, the MRF Tyres M-Sport Fiesta R5 will also participate in the Neste Rally Finland, Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, and Kennards Hire Rally Australia. As revealed earlier, the team will skip tarmac events this season, focusing on gravel rallies only, while MRF develops a bespoke tarmac tyre for next year’s campaign.