Excitement and Thrills at the Izmir Autocross
The first autocross of the year in the Aegean region was held in Izmir on Sunday 1 October, organised by Aydın Otomobil Sporları Kulübü. Staged on a gravel course created in Seyrek through the joint efforts of AYOSK and Menemen Municipality, the event was run in 4 separate categories over 2 rounds. As always, motorsport enthusiasts showed great interest in the Izmir Autocross, and spectators were treated to plenty of excitement and adrenaline. 
With 18 competitors battling it out, Mehmet Canseven led Category 1 in the first part of the day with a time of 4.20,62. Canseven also won the day's second race to take the winner's trophy with a total of 40 points. Serdar Sarıduman held a consistent pace to overtake his rival Kuvvet Erim and finish second on average. Kuvvet Erim, who has 30 years of competition experience, finished the first part second in his Palio. He slipped to third in the second part and took the third step of the podium with a total of 32 points.
In Category 2, Sena Racing driver Sadi Ünver completed the first part in first place with 3.53,12, scoring 20 points. Maintaining that pace in the final part, the 16-year-old driver took the winner's trophy with a total of 40 points in only the second race of the driver's career. Mithat Diker and Erdal Oral, who had shared a podium at the 2023 TransAnatolia over a gruelling 2350-kilometre route, this time lined up as rivals. Mithat Diker finished second and Erdal Oral third.
In Category 3, Hakan Akman, appearing in a new Fiat Egea 1.4T, won both parts to take the winner's trophy with a total of 40 points. Faruk Sayın in a Fiat Palio and Ahmet Zorlu in a Ford Fiesta ST finished both races in the same positions, with Faruk Sayın taking second and Ahmet Zorlu third.
In Category 4, in a battle between Levent Şapçılar in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 and Efe Turan in a BMW E30, Şapçılar won with a total of 40 points and also broke the course record. Efe Turan took second with 34 points and Faruk Sayın third with 28 points. In the women's category, experienced competitor Yasemin Erikli finished second, while Candan Erim, who made a first foray into motorsport at this event, took the win.
