TRNC Motorsport in 2017 – Part 3

The motorsport events and developments in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during 2017 are covered in this third instalment, written by Çağın Özılgaz, editor-in-chief of the TRNC-based website Damalı Bayrak...

July

• The second round of the 2017 TRNC Karting Championship, organised by the North Cyprus Automobile Club and sponsored by Erülkü Süpermarket, took place in July. Winners were decided in three classes at the race held at Cemsa Sporting Center.

• Champion drifter Enver Haskasap competed in July in the European drifting championship, Drift GP, first in Ireland and then in Sweden. The driver reached the last eight in both events.

• The fourth "Reyer Petrol Classic Car Treasure Hunt", part of the eighth 11 Torches Festival organised by Dikmen Municipality this year, was held in July and provided plenty of enjoyment.

• The Rally İskele, organised for the ninth time this year by the North Cyprus Touring and Automobile Association as part of the 49th İskele Festival, was held in July. The crew of Mustafa Bulutoğluları and Nebil Öneral won the rally.

August

• The slalom event, an essential summer fixture for classic car enthusiasts, was held in August at Cemsa, organised by the Cyprus Turkish Classic Car Association. Ömer Ataçağ set the best time on an evening that attracted 75 cars, and trophies were awarded in five classes.

• The 2017 TRNC Karting Championship continued in August with a night race at Cemsa. Winners were decided in five classes at the end of the racing.

• The "Şeherde Gece Classic Car Rally", organised by the Cyprus Turkish Classic Car Association, was held in August. The couple Ertan and Ayşe Namlı won the night rally, which attracted 45 crews.

• Transanatolia Rally Raid, one of the toughest races in the world, ran in August over seven days, starting in Izmir and finishing in Samsun. Our crew, Salih Kanatlı and Mazhar Ünal, were unable to complete the event because of a mechanical failure.

September

• Cypriot Turkish motorcyclist Eser Harper competed in the "Serres Rally 2017", organised in Greece in September under the umbrella of the International Motorcycling Federation, and made it to the finish.

• The karting championship continued in September with its fourth round at Cemsa. After enjoyable battles, winners were decided in three classes.

• The fourth round of the KKORD Off-road Championship was held in September at Plümer Grove. Former champions Niyazi Bedel and Hasan Güney set the best time of the day.

• The third round of the season at the Power Drift Club, based in southern Cyprus, was held in September. Our representative Enver Haskasap moved up to second in the championship after the event. In Semi-Pro, Ülkü Erçoban moved into the lead.

• The second round of the 2017 Classic Car Slalom Championship, organised by the North Cyprus Classic and Sports Car Club, was held at Cemsa in September with sponsorship from Oscar Group. Winners were decided in six classes at the end of the event, which attracted 37 crews. Another activity for the club in September was a classic car beauty contest. The "3rd Concours Classica North Cyprus" took place in Onar Talil Village.

• The fourth round of the Enduro Championship, organised by the Cyprus Turkish Motorcycle Association, was held in Kyrenia in September. Fifty riders competed in the "GAÜ-KAÜ Enduro Hill Climb", and winners were decided in seven classes.

• The fifth round of the rally championship was the Grand Rally, sponsored by Gülgün Süt Ürünleri. Mustafa Bulutoğluları and Nebil Öneral won the event, while Rauf Denktaş and Derviş Savarona secured the championship title on this rally.