Toktaş Unlucky on Home Ground

Round two of the 2016 Turkish Hill Climb Championship, the Bursa Powerpan Hill Climb, was held on Sunday 24 April over three runs on a 5.25-kilometre course starting from the Orhangazi Nadır picnic area.

Competing for Ülkü Motorsport with RMK Mekatronik backing, İsmet Toktaş started the event aiming for victory in the class. The driver set the day's best times in the practice runs, signalling a threat for the overall classification as well as the class.

The event began with the start at 13:00, and in the first run an electrical fault cost Toktaş a significant amount of time on the course. The 13:38.99 time ended any hopes of the lead, but the driver stayed in the fight and in the second run set a time of 3:06.66 to take first in the class and second overall.

Starting the third and final run with a best-time target, İsmet Toktaş went off the road at a point where spectators were gathered, on a course made dirty by dust and gravel after the practice and race runs, and rolled the car half over to end the rally. At a spot where the heat had caused the asphalt surface to melt, the Civic Type-R went out of control, spun onto its nose and ran off the road, giving the spectators an exciting moment.

After the Bursa Powerpan Hill Climb, İsmet Toktaş is level on points with closest rival Refik Bozkurt and will continue the title fight at the Bolu Kaynaşlı Hill Climb, to be organised in Düzce on 28-29 May.