2009 edition of Turkey's oldest international motorsport event, Istanbul Rally, which has 37 years of history, moves to the first weekend of May. Route of the rally will once again be consisting of smooth gravel roads of Istanbul's Asian side and its neighbour city Kocaeli.

2009 event will be counting for European Rally Championship and Turkish Rally Championship. In this year’s event, Rally HQ will be in the Service Park. Once again Pendik Bazaar Area, next to the coastal road, will be served as Service Park. As in last year, the Organising Committee is planning to start the event with a ceremonial start on Friday evening, 1st of May, in Fenerbahce Park. On Saturday and Sunday, drivers will head to demanding, fast and smooth surfaced gravel stages to challenge for the victory.

Most of the 2008 route will be unchanged, as we received very good comments in the last two years concerning the smooth gravel and character of the stages. Drivers will compete on the stages of both Istanbul and Kocaeli during two days.

We are ready to help foreign drivers or guests for custom procedures and reasonable priced accommodation facilities.

We all hope that this will be an enjoyable and exciting rally and wish good luck to all of us.

Let's meet in wonderful Istanbul and feel the adrenaline of ERC.

Sincerely,
Metin Çeker
Clerk of the Course