Season to Open with Winter Rally

In a first for 2018, the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) is preparing to kick off the season with the Winter Rally, to be held in Bolu in February.

The event came about following a visit by TOSFED President Serkan Yazıcı to Bolu Mayor Alaaddin Yılmaz. It will be organised on 24-25 February by the Eskişehir Automobile Sports Club (ESOK) with the support of the Bolu Nature Sports and Off-road Club (BOLOFF).

At a coordination meeting hosted by Bolu Mayor Alaaddin Yılmaz on Friday 5 January, and attended by officials from the relevant public bodies, led by Bolu Police Chief Armağan Adnan Erdoğan, clerk of the course Nevzat Aslan shared the details of the event.

The Bolu Winter Rally will begin on Saturday 24 February with scrutineering and a symbolic start. On Sunday 25 February, crews will tackle five special stages totalling 70 km on a route around Lake Seben and on the Kızık Plateau.

Explaining that racing on snow has not been held in Turkey for many years, TOSFED President Yazıcı said: "With the Winter Rally we are preparing for a season opener that is out of the ordinary. It will be a very different and equally enjoyable experience for our competitors. One of my biggest dreams is for this to be the opening round of the Turkish Rally Championship next year, and in 2020 to organise it as part of the European Rally Championship. This event will make a huge contribution to the promotion and economy of our country and of Bolu."

Bolu Mayor Yılmaz added: "We are working to make Bolu a city of tourism, sport and health, and we want Bolu to be the centre of every branch of sport. Thanks to its geography and geopolitical position, Bolu is the most suitable city for the Winter Rally. We have held very productive meetings and have begun the necessary preparations."