Apex Masters Opens Season in Izmir

The Apex Masters Drift Series made a big start to its 2015 season with the opening round at the İzmir Park Ülkü Race Track.

In front of more than 8,000 passionate and enthusiastic Izmir spectators, 17 drivers took the start in the series opener. The showy, packed car park area, which resembled an exhibition ground, was a sight to behold.

On Sunday 12 April, qualifying came first. The event's judges scored the drivers on speed, line and angle to determine the best 16. The Top 16 battles then got under way. In the Top 16 battles the drivers ran in pairs: the lead car tried to deliver its best run for speed, line and angle, while the chasing driver tried to follow and mirror the car ahead as closely as possible.

At the end of the eliminations, Oktay Kabaktaş and Kemal Soylu reached the final. Oktay, driving a V8-powered Nissan S13, beat his rival Kemal Soylu, who drove a turbocharged BMW E36, to take the first win of the season. In the battle for third place, Özer Mollamehmetoğlu and Mustafa Mert Kazanç put on a close performance. Özer earned third place at the end of that fight, while Mustafa had to settle for fourth.

The second round of the Apex Masters Drift Series will be held at the end of May by the Drift Kulübü at the Istanbul Atatürk Olympic Stadium.