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  Home > Rallies > Turkey
Purpose-built WRC event
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Rally of Turkey was first held in 2000 and already three years later it was part of the WRC. For a casual observer this would indicate a very well organised event with appealing special character, would it not? Truth is a bit different, however. The event was created WRC in mind, purpose-built if you will, and in their quest to win over the hearts and minds of decision makers, organisers even drafted in such experienced people like Simo Lampinen (clerk of the course, Rally Finland) and John Horton (press officer, Rally GB).

What comes to the character of the event, it is held in western Turkey and hence, in a close geographical proximity to Acropolis and Cyprus. Roads have been quite rough but higher altitude and repair work by organisers make Turkey slightly different. For the first five editions, rally was held in southern coast around town of Kemer in Antalya region but in 2010 it moved north to roads near Istanbul.

What has been different is security situation. First running in 2003 as WRC round was in midst of US-Iraqi crisis and in 2004 extremists bombed Istanbul ahead of coming NATO meeting there. So far nothing has happened at the event (fingers crossed now). Turkish organisers have been praised for their sincere approach to have genuine WRC event. Turkey has not proven to be a passing fad - though if number of local spectators is anything to go by, the first years have not been that impressive but local entry has been surprisingly strong.

Rally was dropped after season 2010 but made return eight years later as an replacement for Rally Poland. This time it was based along the same southern coast but further to the west.

Website
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Official rally website

Previous winners
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 2003:   Sainz, Carlos   Citroen Xsara WRC   74.47 km/h 
 2004:   Loeb, Sebastien   Citroen Xsara WRC   80.88 km/h 
 2005:   Loeb, Sebastien   Citroen Xsara WRC   79.85 km/h 
 2006:   Gronholm, Marcus   Ford Focus RS WRC 06   77.43 km/h 
 2008:   Hirvonen, Mikko   Ford Focus RS WRC 07   76.59 km/h 
 2010:   Loeb, Sebastien   Citroen C4 WRC   105.23 km/h 
 2018:   Tanak, Ott   Toyota Yaris WRC   78.30 km/h 
 2019:   Ogier, Sebastien   Citroen C3 WRC   80.76 km/h 
 2020:   Evans, Elfyn   Toyota Yaris WRC   81.45 km/h 
snow in mnts
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High altitude means that even snow is not unheard of in the stages. Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window
turkish village
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Minarets and ancient mountains with an odd rally car thrown in. That is Rally of Turkey. Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window
top down view
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View from the top down to a stage reveals lone nature of the route, spectators are a scarcity. Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window
Driver wins
  Loeb, Sebastien (3)
  Evans, Elfyn (1)
  Gronholm, Marcus (1)
  Hirvonen, Mikko (1)
  Ogier, Sebastien (1)
  Sainz, Carlos (1)
  Tanak, Ott (1)
Manufacturer wins
  Citroen (5)
  Ford (2)
  Toyota (2)
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