Avcı Makes Fast Start to Season

The opening round of the 2016 Turkish Rally Championship, the Saygılı Rulman Aegean Rally, was held in Izmir on 16-17 April. A field of 57 cars and 114 competitors battled over two days on the special stages around Seferihisar and on the spectator stage at the Izmir Park race circuit, with plenty to keep onlookers on the edge of their seats.

At the end of two tough days, Yağız Avcı and Bahadır Gücenmez, who will contest the championship this season for Neo Motorspor in a Peugeot 208 T16 R5, held on to the lead they took on the first stage all the way to the finish and won the Saygılı Rulman Aegean Rally by 40.4 seconds. Taking their first win in the new 208 T16 R5 with the support of Peugeot Sport Türkiye, the Turkish crew made a fast start to the new season. Burak Çukurova and Vedat Bostancı, also in a Peugeot 208 T16 R5, took second place, while Orhan Avcıoğlu and Burçin Korkmaz completed the podium in a Ford Fiesta S2000.

After the rally, Avcı said: "We began the season with the Aegean Rally. This event was also our season opener with Peugeot Türkiye and the 208 T16. On the first day we got to know the 208 better, and we made some set-up changes for the second day. We were able to keep the lead we had held since the first stage right through to the finish. The whole team worked very well and we are very pleased with our performance for a first rally. Next up is Rally Marmaris, part of the European Rally Cup, on 13-15 May, and we will again do everything we can to score good points. We thank everyone who supported us and contributed."