  Multi-gap RPC prototypes with readout on a multi-strip electrode were
developed for the small polar angle region of the CBM-TOF subdetector, the most
demanding zone in terms of granularity and counting rate. The prototypes are
based on low resistivity ($\sim$10$^{10}$ $\Omega$cm) glass electrodes for
performing in high counting rate environment. The strip width/pitch size was
chosen such to fulfill the impedance matching with the front-end electronics
and the granularity requirements of the innermost zone of the CBM-TOF wall. The
in-beam tests using secondary particles produced in heavy ion collisions on a
Pb target at SIS18 - GSI Darmstadt and SPS - CERN were focused on the
performance of the prototype in conditions similar to the ones expected at
SIS100/FAIR. An efficiency larger than 98\% and a system time resolution in the
order of 70~-~80~ps were obtained in high counting rate and high multiplicity
environment.
