Junior WRC
Türkkan survives Sunday pressure to clinch Croatia Rally Junior WRC win
Ali Türkkan held off a fierce final-day attack from Calle Carlberg to claim FIA Junior WRC victory at Croatia Rally on Sunday.
Starting the deciding leg with a 30.5sec advantage, the Turkish driver was forced to absorb relentless pressure as Carlberg won three Sunday’s four stages. But Türkkan kept his composure on Croatia’s unforgiving asphalt to seal victory by 17.3sec, with Craig Rahill completing the podium in third.
The foundations for Türkkan’s win were laid on Saturday, when Carlberg’s rally turned on SS11. The Swede damaged a tyre on the longest stage of the morning, losing more than 90 seconds and surrendering the lead he had built across Friday’s opening leg.
That handed Türkkan his chance, and although Carlberg came out fighting on Sunday, the gap never came down far enough to force a decisive mistake.
Carlberg struck first on Sunday’s SS17 to trim the deficit to 22.8sec, but Türkkan responded immediately by winning SS18 and stretching it back to 23.4sec. From there, Carlberg continued to chip away, edging back 1.3sec on SS19 before topping the Wolf Power Stage, but Türkkan kept enough in hand to secure a hard-earned win.
“It’s a big relief in a rally like this,” said Türkkan. “A lot of pollution and a lot of fast sections, and there’s a person always pushing from behind, so it was not an easy task. We managed the whole rally good, so here is the result.”
Carlberg’s charge still brought a major reward. Thanks to his Wolf Stage Win bonus that included 14 stage wins across the rally, the Swede actually left Croatia having scored more championship points than the winner. He therefore remains at the head of the Junior WRC standings on 68 points, while Türkkan climbs to second on 43.
© WRC
For Rahill, third place capped an impressive second FIA Junior WRC start to mark his first-ever FIA Junior WRC podium having taken two stage wins of his own.
Behind the leading trio, Gil Membrado came home fourth after recovering from tyre trouble on Saturday, while Kerem Kazaz finished fifth after a difficult event spent searching for confidence. Raúl Hernández completed the top six.
Leevi Lassila, meanwhile, was left to salvage seventh after suspension damage on SS14 ruined what had been an increasingly competitive run. The Finn holds third in the championship.
The FIA Junior WRC switches back to gravel next time out for round three of the championship, Vodafone Rally de Portugal. The event is based in Matosinhos and takes place from 7 – 10 May.
