Copyright © Subaru Turkish Rally Team

The sixth event of Turkish Rally Championship, 31st Yesil Bursa Rally started on 9th of September in front of Zafer Plaza shopping mall. The most exciting event of the season was full of dramas and at the end of 12 gravel special stages Subaru Turkey Rally Team's Ercan Kazaz got his 5th win of the season which makes it impossible for his rivals to catch him.

Before the start of Bursa Rally everyone was talking about Karakova stage, the longest and the roughest 25.5 kms of the event which was to be passed 3 times. As the rally started it was proved right when Ercan Kazaz lost his 38 seconds lead on this very stage when he got a puncture on 10th kilometer of Karakova stage. This came as a surprise and as the leader lost 4 valuable minutes, Ford's Adnan Sarihan got the lead followed by his team mate Mehmet Besler. Fiat's Volkan Isik completed top three after Leg 1 Section 1. Ercan Kazaz started pushing setting fastest times before the final stage, closing 35 seconds over the leader which was not enough. But the best was yet to come as the crews headed for the final stage of Leg 1 in the afternoon, Karakova stage again! The final run was full of dramas as the leader lost more than a minute, second place Focus having 2 punctures as well as Volkan Isik with his new Super 2000 Fiat Grande Punto. The leader board was upside down once again with Ford's Adnan Sar1
han leading the event followed by Subaru's Ercan Kazaz by 1 minute 10 seconds, Volkan Isik in third place 1 minute 12 seconds off Kazaz.

As the crews headed for the final Leg on Sunday morning, everyone headed for the Karakova stage which has proved to be the championship decider. On the opening stage, Adnan Sarihan lost control of his Focus WRC and put two wheels in the ditch which cost him too much as he handed the lead to Ercan Kazaz. From that point, Ercan Kazaz set fastest time - 8 out of 12 special stages - crusing his SUBARU IMPREZA S11 WRC to the finish. The final run of Karakova stage was full of dramas once again as Volkan Isik had a puncture on the opening kilometers as well as Group N leader Hakan Dinc, which cost him his fourth place.

At the end of the day, Subaru Turkey Rally Team's Ercan Kazaz climbed out of his IMPREZA as the newly crowned Turkey Rally Champion before the penaltumate event of the season, Rally of Turkey.

Group N leader Hakan Dinc finished 5th overall loosing one place to Volkan Isik with his SUBARU IMPREZA N12 but he had the reason to celebrate as he became the 2006 Group N Champion!

Ercan Kazaz had mixed feelings through out the weekend but mission was accomplished as he had another victory against three Ford Focus WRCs.

The second place went to Ford's Adnan Sarihan followed by his team mate Mehmet Besler in his Ford Focus WRC.

Even Ford had a strong result in Bursa, Subaru Turkey Rally Team stil leads the Manufacturers Championship.

Ercan Kazaz
"We lost the lead after a puncture which cost us 4 minutes, we got the lead back after dropping down to 11th then we won the event which brought us the championship title. I can not describe the feeling. On my 150th start I got my fifth championship title and Impreza has the biggest role in this. I am really thrilled as this win and championship title came during the launch of new SUBARU IMPREZA 1.5 R, which makes our happiness doubled. I would like to dedicate this win first to Atolye Kazaz crew and our sponsors. My next target is Rally of Turkey, the final round of Turkish Championship which may be the last WRC event in my country. I want to present my country on my home event with my Subaru Impreza WRC the best I can."