Only false start penalty prevents stunning overall victory

In his first start in the Turkish Rally Championship with the i20 N Rally2, teenager Kerem Kazaz showed stunning pace at the ESOK Rally (September 13-15) to close the gap at the top of the standings to just two points.

Kazas and his French co-driver Corentin Silvestre won the opening stage and held the lead for the entire event, keeping ahead in close battle for the lead. Their consistently strong pace was vital in the contest, however, even though they claimed five stage victories, only twice did their advantage at the top of the order grow larger than ten seconds and the gap bounced back and forth as the top crew traded fastest times.

Victory on the Power Stage appeared to have sealed a second win of the championship season – Kazaz having also won the opening round. Unfortunately, a ten-second penalty for a false start on the final stage – adjudged only after the end of the rally – dropped he and Silverstre back just far enough to forfeit victory, finishing second by 1.2 seconds.

The result, however, still allowed them to gain ground on their title rivals, moving to just two points behind the current championship leaders.