Spectators to the rescue but it’s tough going for ERC3 contender Banaz

The Castrol Ford Team Turkey driver was fastest in class on the opening stage despite a spin to build on his victory on the SEAJETS Acropolis Rally earlier this month. However, it all went wrong early on stage three, as the ERC Junior Under 27 contender explained.

“We went off on the fifth corner and lost approximately 10 minutes and the spectators helped me to get away, that’s it,” said Banaz. “It was a right corner but two right corners, very near. The first one is fast but the second one is a little bit sharp. I went wide and off the road to the rocks. Thankfully our car is very strong because only my door is not opening. But we lost a lot of time so now we must try to finish the race only because It’s too much time to try to make up.”

Banaz’s misfortune has allowed his team-mate, Ümitcan Özdemir, to lead the ERC3 category after four stages, 10m40.0s in front of Banaz, with Artur Muradian second and Deniz Fahri third on his ERC debut.