History 2000s

2008 Rally of Turkey (Turkey)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2008 Rally of Turkey (Turkey)

Date: June 13–15, 2008

Start Location: Kemer, Antalya Province

Finish Location: Kemer, Antalya Province

Total Distance: ~1,228.00 km

Competitive Stages: 360.00 km

Surface: Gravel (hot, dry, and dusty)

Returning to the WRC calendar after a brief absence, the Rally of Turkey offered punishing heat and rugged gravel roads winding through the Taurus Mountains. Loeb’s balance of outright speed and car preservation proved decisive in a rally that claimed many mechanical victims.

Route

Kumluca: A mix of hairpins and long straights, with shifting grip levels throughout the day.
Silyon: Technical, high-altitude gravel — punishing for brakes and suspension.
Akdeniz: Fast and flowing, but heavily rutted by the second pass.

Stages combined tight, twisty mountain roads with flat-out sections along dusty valleys. Key stages included:

Dust clouds lingered for minutes between cars, making visibility a major challenge for following crews.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën C4 WRC
2nd Place
Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen · Ford Focus RS WRC 07
3rd Place
Jari-Matti Latvala & Miikka Anttila · Ford Focus RS WRC 07

Loeb built an early lead and carefully managed his pace, while Ford teammates Hirvonen and Latvala battled for second, with Hirvonen edging ahead on the final day.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Dust Visibility: Hanging dust made split-second pacenote accuracy essential.
  • Heat Fatigue: Both crews and cars were tested by cockpit temperatures exceeding 50°C.
  • Rutted Gravel: Deep ruts on second passes forced drivers to commit to a single racing line.

Loeb’s win in Turkey reinforced his dominance in 2008, as he once again proved unstoppable on diverse gravel conditions while rivals struggled to match his consistency.

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