Rally Turkey (15 – 18 April 2010)
Rally Turkey, which is back on the WRC calendar, has turned over a new leaf with a route laid outnear Istanbul. Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, winners of the event in 2004 and 2005, have buta single aim in mind, a third victory on the trot to increase their lead in the Drivers’ WorldChampionship. The Citroën Total World Rally Team topping the Manufacturers’ classification sinceRally Jordan, can also count on Dani Sordo and Marc Marti who are still after their first 2010 finishon the podium.
Rally Turkey, which has been on the Rally World Championship calendar five times since 2003, hasmoved to Kemer near Istanbul for the 2010 event. It will be held mainly on the Asiatic continent with thestages and the service park in the Pendik district grouped together on the peninsula bordered by theMarmara sea, the Bosphorous and the Black Sea.
Sébastien Loeb always loves the challenge posed by a new route and Rally Turkey should suit him downto the ground: “I’ve heard that the stages are fairly wide and quick so driving should be great fun. I alsoknow that there are forty kilometres in asphalt on the second day. Obviously, our C4 WRCs will havegravel tyres but we didn’t have too many problems with this combination in Cyprus last year. As it’s aquestion of mixed stages, we’ll have to find the right rhythm when passing from one surface to theother.”
Second in Sweden, victorious in Mexico and Jordan, the six-time world champion already has a 25-pointlead over Jari-Matti Latvala, his closest rival, so he’s feeling confident about the fourth round: “Twentyfivepoints equals a victory. It’s always good to have an ace up your sleeve but the way the 2009 seasonpanned out, reminded us that you can’t lose any points along the way. We’re going to start the rally withthe firm intention of winning. As championship leaders we’ll be first out on the road again on the firstday, but we’ll just have to see how important a role sweeping’s going to play in this event.”
Dani Sordo’s fourth place in Rally Jordan gave Citroën the lead in the Manufacturers’ WorldChampionship. In Turkey, the Spaniard will be aiming for a place on the podium: “After a couple ofdisappointing rallies in terms of results, it was important to boost my confidence. That’s what we did inJordan with a few good times. At the end of the rally we opted for caution as the points for fourth placewere vital for the team. I now want to take advantage of my new-found confidence to go for my firstpodium of the season. I’m sure that the C4 WRC will be very quick on this type of terrain.” Marc Marti isthe only member of the team to have taken part in all the Turkish rallies. In 2003, he won the first eventwith Carlos Sainz (Citroën Xsara WRC).
Three questions to Sébastien Loeb
The 2010 season’s got off to a good start for you with a second place and then two victories.You’ve already built up a good lead…That makes me smile as some said that my second place in Sweden showed a drop in motivation on mypart! Just so as there’s no misunderstanding, I have no intention of stopping the clock at fifty-six victories.What’s interesting is that the 2010 season doesn’t boil down to a duel between Mikko Hirvonen andme. There’s also Jari-Matti Latvala, who now seems able to combine speed and consistency, as well asPetter Solberg and Sébastien Ogier. They’ll all able to fight at the front and that includes Dani too. Forthe moment that plays in my favour but it could also make my job more difficult.”
Rally Turkey is being held on a new route. What does that change for you?“I’m going to have to concentrate a lot more during reconnaissance. When we’ve got our old notes andthe route hasn’t changed all that much in relation to the previous event, I know where the major trapsand bumps are and I don’t have to worry too much. In this case, we just fine-tune the details. When wereconnoitre a stage for the first time it’s a lot more complicated. At 70 km/h (NB: in reconnaissance, thespeed is limited and checked by GPS), I have to try and imagine at what speed we’ll arrive there in therace to note the corners and the bumps. First time through in the rally we always give ourselves a biggerscare than usual! So it’s preferable to allow yourself a bit more leeway and then correct the notes for thesecond run.”
Once again sweeping will be a sore point …“Yes, and I don’t like that very much. It’s a shame that all the attention is focused on this aspect ratherthan on the battle between the crews. My point of view hasn’t changed for over two years. I think thatreversing the running order of the first fifteen on the second and third days is the best solution. There areno calculations to be made and everybody has to push from start to finish. The idea of using theshakedown as a form of qualifying to allow the drivers to choose their starting order makes sense too.Whatever! I just hope that the FIA will soon modify the regulations to give everybody a level playingfield.”
General informationRally Turkey (round 4/13) (15 – 18 April)Surface: gravelPlace: Istanbul
Practical info: The service park is on the Coast Road in Pendik, a quarter of Istanbul. The PC and theMedia Centre are in the Green Park Pendik Hotel. There is a 1-hour time difference between Turkey(GMT+2) and France (GMT + 1). At 12h00 in Istanbul, it is 11h00 in Paris. On Friday 16th April, thefirst day of the rally, the sun will rise at 06h23 and will set at 19h44. In April, the temperature variesbetween 10°C and 20°C. The local currency is the Turkish (TRY), 1 € = 2,02 TRY.
Technical info: The engines used in Turkey are the ones used in Mexico (already run) and in Portugal.Spare parts (gearboxes, differentials, front and rear cradles, steering racks and turbos) are those sharedwith Rally Mexico.Tyres:: 36 Pirelli Scorpion WRC Hard tyres will be given to each crew including 6 for the shakedown.Reconnaissance: It is scheduled for Tuesday 13th April from 7h30 to 18h40 and Wednesday 14thApril from 7h30 à 18h00 with two runs maximum through each stage. Maximum speed allowed is 70km/h unless a slower speed is indicated, and 30 km/h in the supespecial.Shakedown: Thursday 15th April between 8h00 and 12h00 in Kadilli on a 4,75 kilometre stage.
Start: Thursday 15th April in Ayasofya at 17h30.Route:1104,15 km long with 358,84 timed km. 23 special stages (13 different).
Timing:
Day 1 – Friday 16th April : 431,81 km including 98,42 timed km (9 SS, 5 différent SS).Start: 8h00 – SS1 : ‘Darlik 1’ (15,66 km) – SS2 : ‘Karabeyli 1’ (8,23 km) – SS3 : ‘Bozgoca 1’ (13,52km) – SS4 : ‘Halli 1’ (9,60 km) –Service A (12h27 / 30 min) – SS5 : ‘Darlik 2’ (15,66 km) – SS6 :‘Karabeyli 2’ (8,23 km) – SS7 : ‘Bozgoca 2’ (13,52 km) – SS8 : ‘Halli 2’ (9,60 km) – SS9 : ‘SSSIstanbul’ (2,20 km) – Service B (21h30 / 45 min) – Last car in parc ferméat 00h30.
Day 2 – Saturday17th April: 389,72 km including 145,82 timed km (8 SS, 4 différent SS). Start :8h57 – Service C (9h00 / 15 min) – SS10 : ‘Göçbeyli 1’ (18,17 km) – SS11 : ‘Ulupelit 1’ (12,98 km) –SS12 : ‘Bozhane 1’ (14,59 km) – SS13 : ‘Riva 1’ (27,17 km) – Service D (13h55 / 30 min) – SS14 :‘Göçbeyli 2’ (18,17 km) – SS15 : ‘Ulupelit 2’ (12,98 km) – SS16 : ‘Bozhane 2’ (14,59 km) – SS17 :‘Riva 2’ (27,17 km) – Service E (18h53 / 45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 22h45.
Day 3 – Sunday 18th April : 282,62 km including 114,60 timed km chronométrés (6 SS, 3 différentSS). Start : 7h57 – Service F (8h00 / 15 min) – SS18 : ‘Deniz 1’ (16,76 km) – SS19 : ‘Mudarli 1’(21,32 km) – SS20 : ‘Ballica 1’ (19,22 km) – Assistance G (11h44 / 30 min) – SS21 : ‘Deniz 2’(16,76 km) – SS22 : ‘Mudarli 2’ (21,32 km) – SS23 : ‘Ballica 2’ (19,22 km) – Service H (15h41 / 10min) – Finish at 16h11.
