The Grid

Provisional Dunlop MSA BTCC Independents Trophy Final Standings
1st Colin Turkington, 285pts; =8th Gareth Howell & Erkut Kizilirmak, 58pts

Provisional Dunlop MSA BTCC Independents Team Trophy Final Standings
1st Team RAC, 363pts; 2nd Jacksons Motorsport, 274pts; 7th Arkas Racing, 80pts

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Erkut's BTCC

ARKAS RACING - 2007 SEASON REVIEW

HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship entrant Arkas Racing certainly made an impact during its maiden season of competition in 2007, an action-packed year which saw Turkish racer Erkut Kizilirmak finish an excellent joint-eighth in the Independents Trophy standings.

Making its official BTCC debut during the pre-season Media Day at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire back in March, Arkas arrived in Britain's most popular and prestigious race series with former Turkish Touring Car Champion Kizilirmak facing a very steep learning curve.

Although running under the banner of Arkas Racing due to the backing and financial input of the Arkas Automotive Group, Turkey's first multi-brand car dealership network, car preparation was actually handled by Leamington Spa's Tech-Speed Motorsport with additional guidance from Banbury based VX Racing.

At the wheel of his superbly presented BTC-specification Vauxhall Astra Sports Hatch, Erkut got his campaign off to a solid start on his first ever competitive Brands Hatch Indy Circuit outing with a top 12 overall finish during the second of the weekend's three races.

Edging closer to the coveted top 10 during round six at Rockingham with an 11th place result, his next opportunity for a full BTCC points scoring result came at Croft in early June. But while running a superb ninth during the second race of the weekend, contact to the rear of Erkut's car from another competitor on lap 13 saw him forced to retire.

Achieving a further 11th place finish in round 15 at Oulton Park, Erkut then headed to Donington Park where he achieved a career best BTCC qualifying performance of 12th position. Although the rain-affected races didn't produce the top 10 result the Arkas ace wanted, his lap times were highly impressive.

Maiden BTCC top 10 for Kizilirmak
Snetterton hosted the next three rounds of the championship in late July and Erkut raced to a pair of 11th place results, tantalisingly close again to the top 10. However, the next event, a return to Brands Hatch, saw him finally secure the 10th place finish he had been striving for during the first of the weekend's races, round 22.

Better was to follow in round 23, a race which Arkas elected to begin on treaded tyres due to a damp track. The choice paid off early on and saw Erkut rise from 10th at the start to a superb fourth position at mid-distance. The circuit then began to dry and although compromising Erkut's performance, he still managed to finish in the top 10.

While missing the penultimate meeting of the season at Knockhill in Scotland due to a family wedding back home in Istanbul, Erkut and Arkas returned to action during the championship finale at Thruxton in Hampshire.

Battling the effects of flu throughout the weekend, the 38-year-old still managed to end his maiden season in the BTCC joint-eighth in the Independents Trophy standings while Arkas concluded the year seventh in the Independents Team Trophy standings.

It's also important to remember, with the exception of Croft and Snetterton, which Erkut raced at in the 2006 BTCC at the wheel of a VX Racing entered Astra, this season marked his first ever experience of every other circuit on the calendar.

'Our first year in the BTCC has been very enjoyable and to finish in the top 10 on two occasions was fantastic', said Erkut reflecting on the season, 'The championship is so competitive but I think we can be proud of our achievements this year against some very experienced teams and drivers.

'Obviously the second Brands Hatch weekend was our most successful but another of my favourite events was at Donington as we were genuinely fast in qualifying and could have been even quicker. With the experience I have gained this year I'm confident we will be much stronger in 2008. I can't wait for the new season to start.'

Arkas will return to the BTCC in 2008 with Erkut taking part in his second full year of competition in the UK at the wheel of his trusty Astra. It is also planned for the squad to run a second car and the team is currently in discussion with a number of drivers.

Flu doesn't deter Kizilirmak's fighting spirit at Thruxton

Erkut Kizilirmak was forced to battle the effects of a dose of flu at Thruxton Circuit over the weekend, 13th/14th October, but it didn’t prevent the Arkas Racing star from scoring enough points to end his first full year of Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship action joint-eighth in the Independents Trophy.

The 38-year-old from Istanbul, President of the Arkas Automotive group, Turkey’s first multi-brand car dealership network, headed into the season finale aiming to challenge for more top 10 finishes to add to those he scored during his last outing at Brands Hatch two months ago but sadly it wasn’t to be through no fault of his own.

Having risen from 19th on the grid for the first of the weekend’s races, round 28, to 15th position at the chequered flag, hopes were high of an even stronger result in round 29 but Erkut’s race only lasted as far as the complex on lap one when he was tagged from behind and forced into retirement.

Lining up for the final race of the campaign, round 30, on the last row of the grid having been one of the first retirements from the previous race, Erkut made an excellent start in his Tech-Speed Motorsport prepared BTC-specification Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch and had gained several places by the time the field reached the first corner, Allard.

Nudged down the order a couple more places during the next lap or so, the Turkish driver fought-back into the top 18 by lap eight but then on lap 12 more disappointment struck when his car suffered a driveshaft failure.

“It’s been a difficult weekend for me as I haven’t felt all that well but it was still great to be back racing in the BTCC after such a long break since we were at Brands Hatch”, said Erkut, “I’m disappointed to have two non-finishes but sometimes that’s the way it goes. It’s been a good year though overall, I can’t wait to come back next year!

“On behalf of Arkas Racing, Tech-Speed Motorsport and everyone else associated with the team, I would like to send our congratulations to all at Vauxhall and VX Racing for winning the Manufacturers Championship and, of course, to Fabrizio Giovanardi for becoming the 2007 BTCC Champion.”

Kizilirmak breaks BTCC points duck at Brands...Twice!

Turkish racer Erkut Kizilirmak secured his maiden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship top 10 finish during the first of three action-packed encounters at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent on Sunday(19 August) , the Arkas Racing star then continuing the momentum with a repeat performance in race two.

At the wheel of his immaculately prepared BTC-specification Vauxhall Astra Sports Hatch, Erkut started this morning’s rain-affected first race, round 22, from 20th place but before the race leaders had even made it halfway through the opening lap, red flags were shown following a multi-car collision on the run up the hill to Druids Hairpin.

Thankfully, the 37-year-old managed to avoid the chaos ahead of him, which involved a total of nine cars, and so for the re-start he would line up 13th on the grid. Making as good a job of his getaway as he did at the original race start, Erkut moved into the top 12 very quickly and looked impressive in only his second ever wet race meeting.

With rain continuing to fall, the Istanbul-based driver continued to lap strongly throughout the race and managed to gain two places during the closing stages following a coming together between Mike Jordan and Gordon Shedden. Taking the chequered flag in 10th position, Erkut achieved his dream of a first ever full BTCC Driver’s Championship point.

Round 23 would prove to be a bit of lottery with some drivers choosing to run on slick tyres, others remaining on wets and some using a mixture. Arkas opted to run with treaded rubber on all four wheels and at the start it appeared to be the right decision.

Like round 22, the opening lap was notable for a collision – this time on the run to Paddock Hill Bend – and the result saw Erkut emerge through the first corner in seventh position having started 10th on the grid by virtue of his result in race one. More contact though, in this instance involving Jason Plato and Tom Chilton, saw Erkut move into fifth.

After a few laps under the Safety Car, the race resumed on lap seven and Erkut moved into fourth, his highest ever track position in a BTCC race, after Gavin Smith served a drive-through penalty. From mid-distance though, the track started to dry to a point where wet weather tyres were more of a hindrance but he still managed to bring his Astra home in 10th place again to score another full championship point.

“Obviously I’m delighted to score my first ever top 10 finish and to then repeat that in race two was very good for me and the team”, said Erkut, “It was a shame the conditions dried up so much in the second race as it made my job very hard, if it had rained as we thought it might then who knows how high we could have finished?”

Sadly, round 24 ended prematurely for Erkut following contact at Clearways from Richard Marsh’s’s S2000-specification Alfa Romeo, the result seeing the Arkas driver forced into retirement in the gravel trap on lap 14. Nonetheless, the weekend as a whole proved to be a success.

Run, of course, by Marvin Humphries’ Leamington-Spa based Tech-Speed Motorsport squad, the Arkas-branded entry is seventh in the Independents Team Trophy standings while Erkut is ninth in the Independents Trophy chase. Thanks to his two top 10 results, he has now scored in the full BTCC Driver’s Championship and is in joint 19th position.

The penultimate race meeting of the 2007 season, rounds 25, 26 and 27, will see the BTCC circus make its annual visit north of the border to Knockhill Circuit in Fife although Arkas Racing will not be making the journey to Scotland as Erkut will be attending an important family wedding in his native Turkey.

He will therefore not return to competitive action for a full eight weeks when the season finale will take place at Thruxton Circuit on 13th/14th October, the second visit of the season for the BTCC to the Hampshire speedbowl.

KIZILIRMAK EDGES EVER CLOSER TO MAIDEN BTCC TOP 10 FINISH

Arkas Racing's Erkut Kizilirmak continued to move ever closer to achieving his dream of a maiden top 10 finish in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship during the seventh race meeting of the season at Snetterton Circuit yesterday(29-7-7), the Turkish racer finishing in 11th place in two of the weekend's three encounters.

An action-packed weekend from start to finish, 37-year-old Erkut raced superbly well and was incredibly unlucky not to claim his first ever full BTCC Drivers Championship points after seeing a top 10 finish slip away through no fault of his own during round 20.

Lining up 17th on the grid for the first race, an engine problem compromising his pace in qualifying and necessitating a change of powerplant overnight on Saturday, Erkut did a great job to finish in 12th place although he was re-classified in 11th position after original race winner Colin Turkington was excluded from the results.

Starting 11th on the grid for round 20, Leamington Spa-based Tech-Speed Motorsport, the squad which runs the Arkas Racing entered Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, had high hopes for a maiden top 10 result for Erkut and it all looked possible when Mike Jordan had problems on the grid at the start.

Into 10th position immediately, the Safety Car was then deployed after a tangle between several cars lower down the order but at the re-start on lap six, Erkut saw his race begin to unravel. Losing a place to Matt Neal into the Senna Straight, he tucked-in behind the reigning BTCC Champion but was then tagged from behind and pitched off the track.

Erkut managed to recover, albeit a long way down, but after setting some superbly fast and consistent laps he reeled-in Simon Blanckley and Martin Bell before passing both to move back into the top 14. Unfortunately, Erkut was then forced into retirement at Riches Corner on lap 15 following contact while racing closely with Bell.

Round 21 saw the Turkish sensation start in 16th place and after a terrific battle with Jason Hughes and Tom Ferrier at mid-distance, Erkut emerged at the front of the trio following an excellent pass on Hughes into the Esses on lap 12. He then claimed his second 11th place result of the weekend after Matt Allison was forced to retire.

"It's been an enjoyable weekend, there has been some good racing and we had great pace, the car was fantastic", said Erkut reflecting on the Snetterton races, "We had a really good chance to finish in the top 10 for the first time but just missed out, it's a shame but we have shown we have the speed to run comfortably in those positions.

"Through the speed traps we were quicker than drivers like Jason Plato and Matt Neal so that is a very big boost and it shows we're making progress all of the time. We're closer than ever to the top 10, at Brands Hatch maybe we can score our first ever points in the main championship, I really do think we can."

Erkut has climbed into ninth place in the Independents Trophy standings and his results from rounds 19 and 21 have also seen Arkas Racing move into seventh place in the Independents Team Trophy. Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent is the next venue on the calendar and will host rounds 22,23 and 24 three weeks from now on 18th/19th August.

MAIDEN WET WEATHER EXPERIENCE A SUCCESS FOR KIZILIRMAK

Having produced a career best BTCC qualifying performance in dry conditions on Saturday with an incredible top 12 grid slot for the first of Sunday's races, Erkut went on to finish the opening encounter in 14th position, after electing to start from the pitlane due to the wet conditions, and then achieved a 15th place finish in round 17.

Underlining his ever-improving pace throughout the meeting, the 37-year-old’s most competitive run came during round 18 where he finished in 13th place and impressively posted a fastest race lap within just three 10ths of a second of the best set by top Independent runner Mike Jordan who, incidentally, finished the race in third position.

Commenting on his noteworthy outing, the Turkish sensation said: “It’s been a really positive weekend and I’m very pleased. Today is the first time in my life I have raced in the rain so to leave Donington with more points in the Independents Trophy and to have progressed so well is very good. It was unfortunate the rain came as on Saturday I had started to learn the circuit well and to qualify in 12th position was good for me and the team. But then the conditions changed for the races so it was a totally new experience, I had to completely learn all over again but it all worked out ok and I enjoyed it very much.”

The decision to start round 16 from the pitlane was certainly the wise thing to do, especially considering the problems which befell Erkut at Oulton Park three weekends ago when he was eliminated through no fault of his own just a few hundred yards into the opening lap of round 14 in similarly wet conditions.

He explained: “Our plan was to be conservative for the first race and that’s why I started from the pitlane to stay out of trouble. I got up to 11th position but then I made a few mistakes which was a shame. The second race wasn’t as good but the third race was great, I really enjoyed it and I feel I’ve learned a lot about driving in the wet. In every race too we were fastest in the speed trap so now I have got the straights sorted out I just need to work on the corners! Seriously, we have learned a lot this weekend and I am feeling confident we can continue our progress at Snetterton.”

Erkut’s Tech-Speed Motorsport-run Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch was also the second highest placed BTC-specification car in all three of the Donington Park races. His trio of Independents Trophy points finishes see the Arkas-entered squad move to within two points of the top seven in the Independents Team Trophy.

There are now just two weeks to wait until the 19th, 20th and 21st rounds of the season which will take place at Snetterton Circuit on 28th/29th July. For only the second time this season, the Norfolk venue is a track Erkut has at least been to once before in a BTCC car and he is hoping the experience will help him enjoy a season’s best set of results.

KIZILIRMAK EQUALS BEST EVER BTCC RESULT ON OULTON DEBUT

Erkut Kizilirmak equalled his best ever Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race result at Oulton Park Island Circuit today, Sunday, 24th June, during his maiden appearance at the challenging 2.2-mile Cheshire venue.

The 37-year-old Turkish racer, driving a BTC-specification Vauxhall Astra Sports Hatch, recorded a hard-earned 11th place overall during the last of the day's three races, round 15, having earlier claimed 14th position during round 13.

Translating to seventh and ninth place finishes respectively in the Independents Trophy class, the results mean Erkut has consolidated 11th position in the standings and is now just six points shy of the top 10 , a great achievement when considering how difficult it is for a newcomer to learn the tricky Oulton Park track.

It was certainly an eventful weekend for the Arkas Racing driver. Qualifying saw him post the 19th fastest lap but at the start of the first race Erkut found himself 17th on the grid due to problems for two rivals on the formation lap. Maintaining his composure after an early spin, he then battled back from 22nd position to eventually finish in 14th place.

Hopeful of a strong run in round 14 from the seventh row of the grid, he made a great getaway to gain two positions on the run to Old Hall but then disaster struck when Erkut was forced into retirement as the result of an accident triggered further down the order.

With the Astra coming to rest after a substantial impact with the tyre barrier on the outside of the first corner, it would be a race against time for the team to get the car repaired in less than 90 minutes before the start of the last of the day's three races.

Fantastic work from the Tech-Speed Motorsport mechanics, the Leamington-Spa team which runs and prepares the Arkas entry, ensured Erkut would line-up on the grid for round 15 though and the race actually proved to be the most fruitful of the weekend as he avoided all of the chaos to finish a strong 11th to match his career best BTCC finish.

"Obviously I came here not knowing the circuit at all but we improved well during the weekend", said Erkut, "I found almost three seconds between the first practice and qualifying. It's a very difficult track to learn for a newcomer, especially with so many blind corners, but I am happy with our weekend, we had some good results. The second race was disappointing as I made a good start, passed two cars, didn't touch anyone, and then as I braked I felt a huge impact in the side of my car. I tried to control it but there was nothing I could do and went straight over the track into the barriers on the outside, I have no idea who hit me! It's a shame but I was pleased with my performance in the last race and I want to say a big thank you to the team as they did a fantastic job to repair the car so quickly in time for the last race"

KIZILIRMAK MOVES UP ANOTHER LEVEL WITH CROFT PERFORMANCE

pic - HPC Images/Tunc Sengun

Arkas Racing's Erkut Kizilirmak produced his most competitive drive of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Croft Circuit this afternoon to mark another big step forward in his first full season of racing in the UK's premier category.

The 37-year-old, born in Izmir and residing in Istanbul, looked set for a career best finish inside the top 10 during the second of today's three races at the 2.1-mile North Yorkshire venue but an ill-judged approach to Clervaux on lap 13 by Simon Blanckley saw the latter run into the back of Erkut who was, at the time, a superb ninth overall.

Unfortunately wiping out the Turkish driver's chance of achieving his first full championship points of the season, the racing error also saw Erkut lose the opportunity of a high grid start for the third and final race of the weekend under the reverse grid format as he was forced to retire with a damaged sump and subsequent oil leak.

Outstanding work by the Tech-Speed Motorsport mechanics between the second and third races ensured the Arkas-entered Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch would make the grid for round 12 but a problem with the throttle cable eliminated Erkut at the start.

Although frustrated to have lost out on a big points finish in round 11 and the chance of more points in round 12, Erkut's improvements in pace and race craft throughout the weekend were seriously impressive and he did enjoy a solid run to 13th position during the first of today's three encounters to take four Independents Trophy points.

"Although our results don't show how strong we were this weekend, I am very pleased with how I have improved and I want to thank the team for doing such a fantastic job", said Erkut, "It';s been my best weekend so far in terms of pace and performance. Simon (Blanckley) apologised for what happened in race two, there are no hard feelings at all."

Arkas Racing's technical director Brian Ashwood added: "Both myself and Marvin (Humphries; Tech-Speed Motorsport boss) are very proud of Erkut's performance this weekend. He has improved massively since he made his BTCC debut at Croft last year and it was only bad luck which prevented him from a great finish in race two.All of the Tech-Speed guys did a fantastic job to replace the sump on the engine after the second race, especially as we had less than an hour and a half in which to do it. It was just a shame we then had the throttle problem at the start of the last race. The important thing to take from this weekend is that Erkut really has gone up another level."

Television highlights will be shown via digital satellite and cable subscription broadcaster Setanta Sports 1 on Tuesday, 5th June, at 20.30. In addition, Men & Motors will screen a re-run of the ITV1 highlights on Friday, 8th June, at 19.30.

DOUBLE DELIGHT IN TURKEY BOOSTS ERKUT’S CROFT PREPARATIONS

The 37-year-old, who has this year become a regular in the ultra-competitive Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, decided to make the most of additional track time in Turkey’s premier tin-top track series by entering one of the Arkas Racing team’s Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch cars albeit, of course, with Opel branding.

Providing a timely confidence boost ahead of this weekend’s 10th, 11th and 12th rounds of the BTCC season at Croft Circuit, hopes are high Erkut’s winning double in Turkey will translate into his most competitive outing of the year in the UK; especially considering the North Yorkshire venue is where he made his BTCC debut in 2006 with VX Racing.

“After Thruxton at the start of the month we decided it would be a good idea to take one of our Astras to Turkey and make the most of some more track time by taking part in the first two rounds of the Turkish championship”, said Erkut.

“It was fantastic to win both races but the most important thing is that the racing helped me learn more about the car and it increased my confidence which should really help us at Croft this weekend. I can’t wait to get back in my BTCC car now, particularly as it is a UK circuit I have actually raced at before”

The first action of the weekend for Erkut’s Arkas Racing-entered Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, which is prepared and maintained by Leamington-Spa specialists Tech-Speed Motorsport, will come during the opening 40-minute free practice session on Saturday, 2nd June, at 09.30 with a second free practice timetabled for 11.50.

Alongside his full-time commitment to the British Touring Car Championship, Erkut also plans to contest further selected rounds of the Turkish series throughout the year.

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