Tuesday 23rd August 1999
TURKISH GRAND PRIX TO RAISE FUNDS FOR VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE
In support of the wishes of Mr Ugur Isik, Organiser of the Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul, following his discussions with Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, it has been confirmed that the event scheduled to take place on Sunday August 29th will go ahead as planned.
The Event Organiser confirmed that a modified race programme would be run as a ‘Benefit Event’ in aid of the victims of the recent earthquake and as a show of support and respect for the people of Turkey.
The Turkish Prime Minister issued the following statement to the Event Organiser enabling him to continue with his plans to raise funds for the people of Turkey. "I would like to extend my gratitude for the sensitivity shown in the change of programme of the Class 1 Championship to be held in our country in order to give support to the citizens suffering from the effects of the earthquake disaster."
It has been confirmed that financial contributions from the competitors, who will be flying in from all over the world as a show of support, will form the basis of a disaster fund and that the event location will be become a ‘collection centre’ for further donations.
So after the traditional August break, the protagonists in this year’s Class 1 Championship return to the Bosphorus to continue their battle for overall supremacy. Eleven boats will line-up on Sunday 29th for the 15 lap 118Nm Istanbul Grand Prix. The year to date has produced some spectacular racing, outstanding driving and high drama over a variety of testing courses and with five rounds remaining the Championship is very much in the balance.
Ali Nasser and Randy Scism, Victory 7 will arrive in Turkey for the back to back races (Turkish Grand Prix 29th August/Aegean Grand Prix 5th September) holding the whip hand. Carrying a slender 14 points advantage over team-mates Mohamed Al Ghaith and Khalfan Harib, Victory 4 and Saeed Al Tayer and Felix Serralles, Victory 44, tied in second place, it will up to the chasing pack to haul in the Dubai based trio.
Leonardo Polli and Jim Dyke in Jolly Motor lead the charge and will be looking for a more consistent second half to their season. For defending World Champions, Gjelsten and Curtis in Spirit of Norway, boosted by their win in Oslo after a frustrating season, the possibility of retaining the title is now not such a distant prospect but a realistic possibility.
Proving that speed isn’t everything, Claudio Dionisio and Roberto Biancalana are enjoying an excellent run. Picking up points in every round to date they are lying in sixth place and tied with Edoardo Polli and Laith Pharaon in Hyatt, who proved in Oslo that they now have the package to run at the front and that surely a win is just around the corner.
Andreas Ugland and Jann Hillestad in Jotun are also a force not to be underestimated and in only three outings have collected points finishes in each race. For Ugur Isik and Philippe Benhamou in Isiklar 22 the next two rounds will be a chance to enjoy the attentions of a partisan Turkish crowd but are aware that a shock result is unlikely. So too for Immersion, who continue to struggle with engines that are slowly being driven beyond their limits? For No Fear and Ken Thorne and Matteo Nicolini the future is uncertain after a frustrating season and continued development problems but they will line-up in Istanbul looking to produce a performance that they know they are capable of.