Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), Dec 3 : Fabian Kreim of Team MRF set the early pace by topping the time charts in the Super Special Stage ahead of team-mate Gaurav Gill as the India Rally got off to a thrilling start here on Saturday.

The rally, which is also the concluding round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, promises more exciting fare over the next two days as Kreim -- who is currently running second in the championship -- will be seeking to hold off Gill who has already sealed the title with five wins in a row.

Ranged behind the two MRF Skoda Fabia R5 cars was Cusco Racing\'s Yuya Sumiyama in the Subaru Impreza WRX STi while team-mates Michael Young and Sanjay Takale completed the APRC standings.

Kreim clocked two minutes, 17.8 seconds for the 2.12 kilometre sprint while Gill had 02:18.5, well clear of Sumiyama (02:23.4).

In the MRF FMSCI Indian Rally Championship that is being run concurrently, Amittrajit Ghosh took a slender lead over leader Arjun Rao Aroor in the Overall category while young Dean Mascarenhas topped the INRC 2000 class and Vikram Gowda led the FMSCI Cup category.

Kreim shines in India Rally