Rally of Turkey (15–18 April 2010)

Just 10 days after the finish of the Jordan Rally, the Citroën Junior Team goes to Turkey for the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and Kimi Räikkönen/Kaj Lindström will drive the two Citroën C4 WRCs on this new event based close to Istanbul.

A few days after the Jordan Rally, the Citroën Junior Team embarks on one of the three brand new events scheduled for the 2010 season. Prior to Bulgaria and Alsace, the team will contest the all-new Rally Turkey, based in Pendik on the outskirts of Istanbul.

The event will take place on two continents with a start ceremony outside the Hagia Sophia mosque and stages on the Asian side of the Bosphorus River.In total, 12% of the 358.84 kilometres scheduled will be on asphalt. During the second day, the 18.17-kilometre Göçbeyli stage (SS10 and SS14) will feature 13.49 kilometres of asphalt. The final section ofBozhane (SS12 and SS16) is on asphalt as well, and parts of the Riva and Ballica stages are also runpartly on sealed surfaces.

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia have consistently challenged the frontrunners since the start of theseason, and showed their ability to be competitive on all sorts of different surfaces. On the Rally ofTurkey, which is a new event for everyone, the 2008 Junior World Rally Champions will be able to fighton equal terms. “As was the case in Jordan, it’s going to be important not to make any mistakes,” saidSébastien. “This is a brand new rally for all the crews, so for the first time this year we start on a levelplaying field against the other WRC drivers. The recce will be extremely important. We’re going to tryand fight with the leaders on this event just as we did in Sweden, Mexico and Jordan. The whole teamhas done a great job since the start of the season, which our good results have proved.”

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström scored their first WRC points in Jordan by finishing eighth overall. “Itwas important to get to the finish of this particularly difficult event,” said the former Grand Prixchampion. “It was only my eighth-ever rally, but also the most difficult one I have seen so far.”

In Turkey, the Finnish crew will face another totally new route and surface. “I’ve no real idea of what toexpect from the stages in Turkey,” added Kimi. “We’re going to need to do a lot of work during the reccein order to start off the rally well. Our goal is to be at the finish again, and to gradually reduce the gap tothe other WRC drivers.”

Three questions to… Kimi Räikkönen

You scored your first World Rally Championship points in Jordan. Was that the first missionaccomplished for this season?“My only aim on my third WRC event with the C4 was just to reach the finish in Jordan. We sawparticularly difficult road conditions with very specialised stages, which were extremely slippery and hadvery few reference points. The first day was definitely the hardest one I have ever contested throughoutmy short career in rallying. So I was really pleased to get through all these hazards and not to make anybig mistakes. We weren’t particularly quick but this is just a phase we have to go through in order tomake progress.”

How do you see your progress at the wheel of the Citroën C4 WRC?“The terrain in Jordan was very difficult to Mexico. Over in Mexico, I felt quite confident. So I decided topush a little bit harder and then I went off. In Jordan, we decided to stay at a safe pace in order to be sureof getting to the finish. But I learn more about the Citroën C4 WRC and how to drive it with everykilometre. At the end of each stage, I have the feeling that I’ve learned a bit more. I’m beginning to feelmore comfortable, and perhaps most importantly of all, I’m really enjoying myself in the WRC!”

Will the kilometres you covered in Jordan allow you to approach the Rally of Turkey with moreconfidence?“Once more, we’re going to be discovering a very different environment in Turkey. The experience iscoming to us step by step, but each rally is new. Once more, the goal is to be there at the finish. We’ll seewhere we are at after the start of the rally and if we get the chance, we will try to reduce the gap to theleaders a bit.”

Useful informationRally of Turkey (round 4/13) (15–18 April)Surface: gravelWhere: Istanbul

Practical information: The service park is located on the Coast Road at Pendik, on the outskirts ofIstanbul. Rally HQ and the Media Centre are in the Green Park Pendik Hotel. There is a one-hour timedifference between Turkey (GMT +2) and central Europe (GMT +1). So when it is 1200 in Istanbul, it is1100 in Paris. On the first day of the rally, Friday 16 April, the sun will rise at 0623 and set at 1944. InApril, the temperature varies between 10°C and 20°C. The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY). 1 €= 2,02 TRY.

Technical: The engines used in Turkey will be used again in Portugal and Bulgaria. The spare parts(gearboxes, differential sets, front and rear subframes, steering racks and turbos) are being shared withthe Jordan Rally, which has already taken place.Tyres: A total of 36 hard-compound Pirelli Scorpion tyres will be at the disposal of each crew, includingsix for the shakedown.Reconnaissance: These will take place on Tuesday 13 April from 0730 to 1840 and Wednesday 14April from 0730 to 1800, with a minimum of two runs over each stage. The maximum speed permittedis 70kph (unless local signage indicates a lower limit) and 30kph on the superspecial.

Shakedown: Thursday 15 April between 0800 and 1200 at Kadilli on a 4.75-kilometre stage.

Start: Thursday 15 April outside the Hagia Sophia from 1730.Route: Total length of 1104.15 km, of which 358.84 km are competitive. There are 23 special stages(13 different stages).

Timing:

Day 1 – Friday 16 April: 431.81 km of which 98.42 km are competitive (9 stages, 5 differentstages). Start: 0800 – SS1: Darlik 1 (15.66 km) – SS2: Karabeyli 1 (8.23 km) – SS3: Bozgoca 1(13.52 km) – SS4: Halli 1 (9.60 km) – Service A (1227 / 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: SSS Istanbul(2.20 km) – Service B (2130 / 45 min) – Last car into parc fermé at 0030.

Day 2 – Saturday 17 April: 389.72 km of which 145.82 km are competitive (8 stages, 4 differentstages). Start: 0857 – Service C (0900 / 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 (1355 / 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 (18:53 / 45 min) – Last car into parc fermé at 22:45.

Day 3 – Sunday 18 April: 282.62 km of which 114.60 km are competitive (6 stages, 3 differentstages). Start: 0757 – Service F (0800 / 15 min) – SS18: Deniz 1 (16.76 km) – SS19: Mudarli 1(21.32 km) – SS20: Ballica 1 (19.22 km) – Service G (1144 / 30 min) – SS21: Deniz 2 (16.76 km) –SS22: Mudarli 2 (21.32 km) – SS23: Ballica 2 (19.22 km) – Service H (1541 / 10 min) – Finish at1611.

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