Rally Bodrum, the Jewel of Sports Tourism
Rally Bodrum, the opening round of the Shell Helix 2022 Turkish Rally Championship, was organised by Karya Otomobil Spor Kulübü from 15-17 April, with contributions from Bodrum Municipality and BODER (Bodrum Hoteliers' Association) and sponsorship from Çözüm Ortağı Ajans, Oasis Bodrum, Salt Hayat, TAV Airports, Azka Otel, Hillstone Bodrum and Very Chic. 
Winner of the Ace of Mice special jury award in the sports event category last year, Rally Bodrum made a difference on its return to Bodrum after 27 years by putting local values at the forefront. This year, Bodrum's standout local values once again became the rally's signature. The event began with a group photo shoot in the Bodrum Castle North Moat, followed by the start ceremony at Bodrum Square, accompanied by Bodrum's emblematic tirhandil and gulet boats. In addition, on Saturday 16 April, the "Spor Her Yerde" programme was broadcast on TRT Spor Yıldız in a 45-minute live show from the Rally Bodrum service park.
HANDMADE TROPHIES CRAFTED FROM SPONGES
Very special trophies were prepared for the rally's winners, made from sponges harvested by "The Last Sponge Diver, Aksona Mehmet" and mounted on wooden bases. Sponge diving, one of Bodrum's greatest traditions, and Aksona Mehmet were remembered with the message "In memory of the nameless heroes of the deep blue, the sponge divers of all time. Greetings from the blue waters of Bodrum, to the loving hearts of my beautiful country and of the whole world..." The drivers who shared the top three places also celebrated their success with wreaths specially designed from Bodrum mandarins.
ARA COLLECTION SIGNATURE ON THE ÇİFTÇİ SPECIAL AWARD
The special award given in the name of Satvet Çiftçi, a respected businessman and one of the doyens of motorsport, was made by Ara Kuyumculuk, one of Bodrum's signature brands, from fish figures designed with Swarovski crystals. The pieces by Ara Collection, a favourite of celebrities such as Goldie Hawn, Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey and Kylie Jenner, are born in Bodrum and created one by one by the acclaimed designer Ali Rıza Akdolu. The winner of this special award, presented in Satvet Çiftçi's name with the title of "Most Successful Young Driver", was Red Bull driver Ali Türkkan. 
MOTORSPORT'S CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS TOURISM
With Rally Bodrum held during Tourism Week, teams, individual competitors, officials and motorsport enthusiasts filled the streets of Bodrum for four days. Motorsport showed once again that it is the jewel of sports tourism, and Bodrum hosted around 3,000 people during the week of the event.
On the demanding rally, run over forest roads with the unique Bodrum scenery where green meets blue, the Orhan Avcıoğlu-Burçin Korkmaz crew took the win, with the Cem Alakoç-Emir Şahin crew second and Ali Türkkan-Burak Erdener third.
