Erkan Birinci Wins Again
The three-round Akzirve Challenge marathon, organised by Istanbul Off-road Club (İstanbul Offroad Kulübü) at the Strada site in Bahçeşehir, ended with the final race on Sunday 17 December.
In the Akzirve Challenge, 4x4 vehicles of different categories and power outputs start in pairs and race against the clock on two interlinked courses. At first glance it may seem unfair for the powerful vehicles of the S3 and S4 classes to compete alongside the lower-powered machines of S1 and S2, but the results show that correct driving and making the most of each vehicle's different strengths level the playing field.
Run on Sunday 17 December in a storm and torrential rain, the race saw competitors tackle a course that had turned to thick mud in difficult conditions. Spectators did not abandon the competitors despite the rain, showing their support under umbrellas.
On the formation lap, Akzirve CEO İbrahim Maasfeh and Sales and Marketing Director İsmail Çakır started in the lead vehicles and covered the course at race pace. The race then got under way with the start given by İbrahim Maasfeh.
Eighteen vehicles started the first round. Starting in pairs, the competitors fought to set the fastest times and make it into the top 10 going through to the second round. Among them, Ali İşeri, racing a Suzuki Jimny in the S1 class, was unable to finish the race with a gearbox failure, while Saim Tekin, racing a Can Am Maverick X3 XRS Turbo in the S4 class, retired after his left front tie rod end snapped. The fastest time in this round was set by Erkan Birinci with 7:32:03. Racing a Can Am Maverick X3 XRS Turbo, Erkan Birinci also set the fastest time in every other round and ended up taking the winner's trophy. The other best times in this round were set by Berk İşeri, racing a Suzuki Grand Vitara in S2, with 7:41:94, and Bülent Karaduman, racing a Suzuki Vitara in S1, with 7:53:69.
In the second round, the first pair away was Bülent Acar in a Range Rover in S3 and Devrim Öztürk in a Toyota Hi Lux in S4. In the second group, Aziz Görkan in a Range Rover in S3 and Kubilay Tüfekçi in a De Toro in S4 started. The third pair was Ozan Dağlı in a Suzuki Jimny from S1 and Kenan Çarpışantürk in a Mitsubishi Pajero in S3. The fourth group comprised Ali Doğaner in a Can Am in S4 and Bülent Karaduman in a Suzuki Vitara in S1. Finally, the two drivers who had set the fastest times in the previous round started: Erkan Birinci in an S4 Can Am and Cem Berk İşeri in an S1 Suzuki Grand Vitara.
With the course becoming extremely slippery in the rain, the drivers took a more cautious approach in this round. The four drivers who set the fastest times and earned a place in the semi-final round were decided. Erkan Birinci set the fastest time and went through, while the other drivers to progress were Ali Doğaner, Kenan Çarpışantürk and Kubilay Tüfekçi.
The third round started as the semi-final. Kenan Çarpışantürk and Kubilay Tüfekçi started together, as did Erkan Birinci and Ali Doğaner. In the race run in blinding rain, the two best results went to two Can Am drivers: Erkan Birinci and Ali Doğaner. In the final, Erkan Birinci and Ali Doğaner faced each other once again. In a fast-starting race, Ali Doğaner retired on the first lap when a belt snapped. Erkan Birinci completed the lap and the race in first place. The drivers who finished on the podium received their trophies from Akzirve officials at an awards ceremony held at the Akzirve building.
In a competition run on social media, the three people who correctly predicted the winner of this race were awarded the "Best Off-road Spectator" trophy by Akzirve. Ali Rıza Çelik, Soner Birol and Aydın Bozoğlan received their trophies from Akzirve's Melis Güldüren.
The drivers who finished in the top three in the overall classification and in the classes of the three-race Akzirve Challenge 2017 will receive their awards at the prize-giving ceremony to be organised by İSOFF in January.
