Ali Türkkan Crowned JWRC World Champion

Turkish driver Ali Türkkan has won the 2026 FIA Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) title after Rally Chile, achieving the greatest success in the history of Turkish motorsport.

Competing for Castrol Ford Team Türkiye with co-drivers Bilge Ayan and Oytun Albayrak, Türkkan crowned the speed, fight and determination shown throughout the season with a world title, carrying the crescent-and-star flag to the top of the rally world.

Team Petrol Ofisi driver Kerem Kazaz, who has fought strongly in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship all season, was forced to retire on the opening leg of Rally Chile with co-driver Corentin Silvestre after damage sustained in a heavy landing following a jump.

Turkish Automobile Sports Federation President Eren Üçlertoprağı said in a message: "I congratulate everyone who contributed to this historic achievement, above all Ali Türkkan, along with his co-drivers Oytun Albayrak and Bilge Ayan, his family, Castrol Ford Team Türkiye, Serdar Bostancı, Murat Bostancı, his sponsors and the entire team that helped make this incredible journey possible. I also send my best wishes to our Team Petrol Ofisi crew, Kerem Kazaz and Corentin Silvestre, and hope they recover quickly, return to the stages, and continue to represent our country successfully next year."