Copyright © Subaru Turkish Rally Team

"Subaru Turkish Rally Team" wins the 1st and the 3rd place in the season opener Ipragaz Ege Rally in WRC and Group N categories, SUBARU is also the brand leader in the overall classification.

2006 Turkish Rally Championship got underway on the 1st of April in Kusadasi, on the Aegean coast. 50 crews signed on to start this formidable asphalt event.

Before first event of the 2006 Turkish Rally Championship, Subaru Turkish Rally Team held Press meeting on March 27 to introduce its new team. Various media came to cover the meeting and the Team was ready to go.

The SUBARU IMPREZA WRC coped impressively with the twisty and slippery roads that formed 12 special stages that climb high above the mountains of Soke. After an initial shakedown and brief test prior to the event, Ercan Kazaz made his first competitive appearance behind the wheel of a SUBARU IMPREZA World Rally Car. Arriving at service after the first group of four stages, Ercan was delighted with the performance of the car. The first leg closed with cars in parc ferme and Ercan in second place less than 20 seconds behind Mehmet Besler in a Ford Focus WRC.

A wide awake Ercan left service on Sunday morning to attack the first group of stages setting the fastest stage time. He continued to close on the Ford WRC of Mehmet Besler again setting fastest stage time on SS8.

Arriving at the second service of the day, reigning Super 1600 champion Kazaz confirmed how competitive he can be in his Pirelli RX5 equipped car. The Pirelli RX5 tyres performed superbly on the hot slippery asphalt of this region.

A determined Kazaz continued to put pressure on Mehmet Besler, again netting fastest time on SS 9, where the Ford driver left the road and was unable to complete the stage. A relaxed and victorious Ercan Kazaz arrived at the finish to a delight Subaru Turkey Rally Team.

	Copyright © Subaru Turkish Rally Team

"I was delighted to be part of Subaru Turkey Rally Team created by Baytur after serving the brand for more then 6 years. It is an unbelievable experience to drive the Prodrive prepared IMPREZA WRC and I'm really happy to give SUBARU a win after a long time. My longtime partner Pirelli tyres performed superbly given the conditions. I am hoping to learn the car better in the coming rallies to outperform my rivals.

Meanwhile, Hakan Dinc was back in Group N action continuing his winning ways with his Prodrive built brand new SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI. He lead Group N from start to finish setting numerous fastest stage times to win his group.

STRT's young gun Hasan Ozseyhan finished the event in his SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI despite having transmission problems early in the event.

All three of the teams cars completed the event enabling the Subaru Turkey Rally Team to lead the manufacturers championship in front of Fiat and Ford.