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Arkas Racing and Turkish driver Erkut Kizilirmak can’t wait for their
combined return to action at Thruxton Circuit just five days from now, 13th/14th
October, during the eagerly awaited Finals Weekend of the 2007 Dunlop MSA
British Touring Car Championship.
Having missed the Knockhill race meeting at the beginning of September due
to family commitments back home in Istanbul, Erkut is chomping at the bit to be
back in the BTCC at the wheel of his BTC-specification Vauxhall Astra Sports
Hatch.
Since his last outing in the BTCC some eight weeks ago during the Brands
Hatch  Indy race meeting on 18th/19th August, Erkut has celebrated his 38th
birthday and although missing the three Knockhill races he still finds himself
ninth overall in the Independents Trophy standings while Arkas is placed seventh
in the Independents Team Trophy.
Arriving at Thruxton with memories of securing his maiden BTCC Drivers
Championship points still fresh in his mind, having raced to a brace of top 10
finishes during his last outing at Brands Hatch, Erkut is now aiming to conclude
his first season in the category with an equally strong run at Hampshire’s
ultra-fast 2.35-mile circuit.
“We’re very happy to be back in action in the BTCC”, said Erkut, “I’ve
really missed the racing over the last couple of months and although it might
take a little bit of time to get fully up to speed again during the practice
sessions, I’m confident we can have a strong weekend as we’re definitely
improving every time we compete. It should be great fun!”
Prepared by Leamington Spa’s Tech-Speed Motorsport with additional
background support from Banbury-based VX Racing, Erkut’s Arkas-branded Vauxhall
Astra has unquestionably been one of the most immaculately turned-out cars on
the BTCC grid.
Great news ahead of 2008 too is that Turkey’s best saloon-car racer is
likely to be joined by a team-mate for the first time, the Arkas entry focused
on securing the services of another driver in time for the first round of
the campaign next March.
“Erkut has progressed very well this year and it’s been a good season,
we’ve very much enjoyed it”, commented Arkas Racing’s Yalcin Arsan, “But to
progress more, we want to have a second driver in the team in 2008 as a
priority. With two cars in the BTCC, not only will Arkas be stronger but Erkut
will be able to improve even more.”
At Thruxton, Erkut will also have the benefit of four complimentary race
tyres which have been awarded to the Turkish star in the 2007 Dunlop Spirit of
the Championship Awards for “never complaining”! Regarded as one of the true
nice guys in the BTCC paddock, the award couldn’t have been handed to a more
deserving driver.
The opening free practice session ahead of the final three races of the
2007 BTCC season is timetabled to start at 09.30 on Saturday, 13th October, with
session two set to follow at 12.10 and qualifying itself expected to get
underway at 15.10.
Round 28 will begin at 11.00 on Sunday, 14th October, with round 29
following at 13.10 and round 30 scheduled for 16.20. Freeview, digital satellite
and cable channel ITV4 will screen live coverage of race two and a full re-run
of race one from 12.30. Race three will then be shown live on ITV1, the
transmission beginning at 15.30, along with highlights from the two earlier
encounters. All times are, of course, subject to change.
Provisional Dunlop MSA BTCC Independents Trophy Standings
(after Rd27)
1st Mike Jordan, 250pts; 2nd Colin Turkington, 247pts;
9th Erkut Kizilirmak, 56pts
Provisional Dunlop MSA BTCC Independents Team Trophy Standings
(after Rd27)
1st Team RAC, 325pts; 2nd Team Eurotech Racing, 257pts;
7th Arkas Racing, 77pts
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