ERC - European Rally Champioship 2008

Round 1, Turkey

European Rally Championship

2008 edition of Turkey's oldest international motorsport event will be called as 'Istanbul Rally' and that one will be the new name of the event which has 36 years of history. Route of the rally will once again be consisting of smooth gravel roads of Istanbul's Asian side and its neighbour city Kocaeli.

This year, Istanbul Rally is moved to the first weekend of April. So all the competitors will have a chance to drive in Europe and Asia continents on same day, under warm spring sun. 2008 event once again will be counting for European Rally Championship, Intercontinental Rally Championship and Arkas Otomotiv Turkish Rally Championship.

2007 Event

After more than 10 years, Turkey's oldest international motorsport event, Fiat Rally was organised on all gravel stages for the first time, around Istanbul and Kocaeli roads. Rally, was counting for three different championships: FIA European Rally Championship, brand new Intercontinental Rally Challenge Series and Arkas Otomotiv Turkish Rally Championship.

There was a breath-taking competition among the top runners, during three days of the event. Competitors tackled 19 special stages, including two runs of SSS, which was next to new Service Park in Pendik county.

Young driver Anton Alen of Abarth SPA led the majority of the event until 16th special stage, where Nicolas Vouilloz of Peugeot Esport Espana took the lead. Then French driver kept his position and won the event, whereas his teammate Enrique Garcia became third overall.

Turkish driver Volkan Isik of Fiat Motorsports Turkey lost 2nd overall position on the last special stage, due to puncture. Thus, Andrea Navara of Abarth SPA finished the event in second place. Volkan Isik, best Turkish driver of the event, classified in 4th overall.

38 of 65 starters reached finish ceremeony of the rally, which was covering total of 807 kilometers. Thanks to Eurosport's comprehensive coverages, rally reached very big audience figures.

2008 Route

Most of the 2007 route will be unchanged, as we received very good comments concerning the smooth gravel and character of the stages. While drivers will compete on the stages of both Istanbul and Kocaeli region on Saturday, final day of the event will only see Istanbul stages.

Brand new Bulent Ecevit Cultural Center, Kartal will once again serve as Rally HQ. Just 5.3 kms away from the HQ, Pendik Bazaar Area, next to the coastal road, will again be used as Service Park. As in last year, the Organising Committee is planning to start the event from historic Sultanahmet Square, in European side on Friday, 5th of September. Therefore it is planned to carry all the rally cars, in a specially rented ferry, so all the competitors, team and media members will have a chance to enjoy picturesque view of famous 'Bosphorus'.

We are ready to help foreign drivers or guests for custom procedures and reasonable priced accommodation facilities.

Let's meet in wonderful Istanbul and feel the adrenaline of ERC.