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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.”
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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