Taurus mountains growing out from many mountain ranges approximately 1000 km. long rises upon Alanya and in 170 km west of Alanya Kemer town lies with wonderful villages, fields, forests
Taurus mountains growing out from many mountain ranges approximately 1000 km. long rises upon Alanya and in 170 km west of Alanya Kemer town lies with wonderful villages, fields, forests and goat gangs.
Every once in a year the area comes out of the silence. After 2003 the best rally drivers of the world raced again here for the 5th time between 12 – 15 June in 2008.
The race in 5 special laps and 19 classifying lasted in 4 days and took place on special mountain and dirt roads. Also sprint races which were easier to access presented in Antalya stadium for lots of audience. Racers got ready at starting point in the middle of Kemer town with Renault race cars. A lot of Scandinavian audience came to Kemer to watch successful Scandinavian pilots. Finnish fans were very pleased with 2008’s double winners Mikko Hırvonen and Jarri Matti Latvala! Henning and Peter Solberg took the places 5th and 6th. Swedish pilots Per – Gunnar Andersson had to leave the race because of the technical problems. Cars had hard times on the cover stoned course and pilots showed their best efforts. Quite few cars lost their mudguards from the first courses. Also tire trouble danger added to this in the faster laps.
For further information you can check http://www.wrcturkey.com/v08/ website where you can find details in Turkish and English. It is possible to find a Turkey map beside the detailed program. You can reach many visitors point in the racing area with a car. Only keep in mind that it is possible to find food in busier visitor points.
Also you can find pleasing opportunities in Yanıklar and Sillion visitor points and swim in the refreshing mountain river. This is really fun but will not be enough to cover you from the “rally” dust rest of the day.
If you are not afraid to get dusty we advice you to catch the next organization. Share this experience where the best driver of the world will show up with amazing view of the Taurus mountains in the background.
Rally Turkey 2008 Results
1 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN) Ford Focus 4h42'07"1
2 Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN) Ford Focus 7"9
3 Sébastien LOEB (FRA) Citroën C4 25"7
4 Daniel SORDO (ESP) Citroën C4 2'25"6
5 Henning SOLBERG (NOR) Ford Focus (Munchi's) 2'33"7
6 Petter SOLBERG (NOR) Subaru Impreza 2'48"2
7 Matthew WILSON (GBR) Ford Focus (Stobart) 4'24"2
8 Conrad RAUTENBACH (ZIM) Citroën C4 7'46"7
9 Federico VILLAGRA (ARG) Ford Focus (Munchi's) 9'34"1 1
10 Barry CLARK (GBR) Ford Focus 14'48"8



Martin Bernhart