National athlete Ali Türkkan, who completed the 2026 World Youth Rally Championship (JWRC) at the top, and Castrol Ford Team Türkiye Team Coach Murat Bostancı made statements to the AA reporter at Istanbul Park.
Stating that he wants to compete at the highest level in the rally branch in the future, Ali Türkkan said, "Currently, we have the WRC2 class before us. Then there is the top class. My goal has always been to compete in the top class and if I have the chance, I want to win a championship there too. I want to win the championship at the top of rally and automobile sports. I have now taken a very important step on this path. We know that the champions in the WRC come from JWRC. I also set my sights on the WRC. I hope there too. "I can champion." he said.
Stating that he reached the championship this season with the experience he gained after finishing the JWRC in third place in 2024 and 2025, Ali Türkkan said, "We learned a lot in the championship, both with what we did and what we couldn't do for two years. In fact, we were always fast. When we first went, we had the speed to win, but we also saw that you cannot become a champion with speed alone. It was also necessary to add experience. This took us 2 years, but it was worth it." made his assessment.
The national rallyist stated that the breaking point of the JWRC championship for him was at the Finland Rally and said, "The breaking point for us was when the Turkish spectators took us out of the place where we flew with the car in the Finland Rally and put us back on the road. In this way, we became the champion with the extra 2-3 points we received. In fact, those 2-3 points determine the champion. With the support of the Turkish spectators there, we got 2 points on the way back and became the champion." he said.
Stating that he took a risk against his biggest rival, Swedish Calle Carlberg, on the way to the championship in the Chile stage of JWRC held on 10-13 September, Ali Türkkan said:
"We increased the risk we took in Saturday's race. I think one of the two pilots was going to make a mistake anyway. No one can afford to finish the race but not become the champion. That's why we both went at the maximum. We were faster by a significant difference. It was not by a small margin. We were clearly the faster team. As such, we won 4 stages and took the lead. Even a Finnish rival of ours intervened, and Calle Carlberg fell to third place. As such, the championship chances dropped considerably. Carlberg had to take risks, too. "He took risks, indeed he made mistakes. That's part of sports. I was taking risks too. I could have made mistakes, too, but I can say we stayed a little more resilient under pressure."
"The only goal for us was the championship"
Ali Türkkan stated that the only goal for them in JWRC this year is the championship.
Stating that they had a long season behind, the 27-year-old pilot said, "We won two races during the season. We came to the Chilean stage by winning two of the 4 races. We also won the Acropolis Rally last year. That's why just winning the race was not a goal for us. The only goal for us was the championship. That's why, in the race we were leading, we actually slowed down a little in the last two stages and fell to second place. Because second place was enough for us in the current championship mathematics. We did not take any unnecessary risks. "We had already taken all the possible risks on Saturday. Actually, we could have won the race in Chile and become the champion, but we finished second in the race in Chile and became the champion anyway." he said.
Ali Türkkan stated that it was not easy at first to continue with Bilge Ayan after starting the organization with Oytun Albayrak as co-pilot, and continued his words as follows:
"I did the whole of 2025, almost 20 races, with Oytun Albayrak. I started this year with Oytun Albayrak, but there was a minor injury in the middle of the season and it was necessary to change the co-pilot. Of course, it was not easy to achieve a good adaptation in the car with a new person. It was especially challenging for us that Bilge Ayan lived in Izmir. I went to Izmir a few times and did special training with him. Then, we did not sit directly in the race car. A test in Istanbul Park. We adapted quickly to each other thanks to Bilge Ayan's experience. Bilge Ayan is a very good co-pilot like Oytun Albayrak. I think the share distribution in the car is 50 to 50. No matter how good I am, I would like to thank both of them very much. I think they both deserve the title of world champion.
Noting that he saw the strengths and weaknesses of this year's JWRC, Ali Türkkan said, "I think we are in a very good position in terms of speed. Our experience is also high. We know where and what we need to do. I think we need to be able to maintain this speed and top tempo more flawlessly. In some races, we make small mistakes. This season, we were actually unlucky in this regard because the small mistakes had a heavy price. We flew off the road in both races, although these were very small mistakes. Here, a bit of luck factor also comes into play. In higher classes "We need to be fast and not make mistakes. That's why we have to work hard to be error-free." He commented:
Stating that he sees 2027, when he will compete in WRC2, as a "learning year", the national athlete said, "No matter how 'learning year' it is, we have expectations from ourselves. We are moving to a higher class and we are new there. Therefore, it will not be easy to go and fight for the podium right there. This will not be a realistic goal. Let's call it a surprise if it happens. Of course, we go to every race to win. We learn to win even when we cannot win." he said.
The national pilot stated that being the champion in JWRC this year will have positive and negative effects and said, "In a positive sense, as a champion, some doors will perhaps be opened to me more easily. In a negative sense, no matter where I am, everyone will see me as a candidate to win. Of course, this will also have pressure and expectation. It will be necessary to fight against this and sometimes produce results, even in the season we call 'the year of learning'. I enjoy this pressure. As I said, I want to win everywhere and under all conditions. That is why nothing will change." he said.
Stating that he sees French rally driver Sebastien Ogier as his idol, Ali Türkkan said, "Sebastien Ogier can go fast at all times and under all conditions. He does not care about the ground, weather conditions, car or tire brand. He comes and passes everyone, regardless of his age. I hope that if I can be like him one day, I can combine both my speed and experience. In this way, I can pass everyone in all conditions. It would be the best if Sebastien Ogier came here today. Even if he goes somewhere else, he will be the best there." "It would be better. My goal is to be like Sebastien Ogier." he said.
Ali Türkkan emphasized that Türkiye's future is bright in motor sports and continued his words as follows:
"I think there was an acceleration that started in motorcycles. After Kenan Sofuoğlu, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu came. This situation is increasing. There is Ayhancan Güven on the track, now karting young people are coming from behind. I also opened a path in rally. We started to conquer the world in motorcycle, track and rally branches one by one. I am very happy to be the pioneer of this in rally. I am going to the championship as one person. Maybe in 5 years, 2, 3 or 5 people will go there and more than me." "My successful brothers will achieve even better things. Frankly, this is what I want to see."
Stating that he left a difficult journey behind this year, Ali Türkkan said, "We started this journey 5 years ago as a team and it took 5 years for the result to come. At this point, our main sponsors Castrol and Ford never left us alone. They believed in this success very much. We were always there with the goal of championship. We came third in the JWRC twice. They gave us the opportunity to try again. In the end, we brought the JWRC championship to the country. This is a joint work and common pride for all of us. That's why I would like to thank each and every one of them." he said.
Bostancı: "We finally won a championship we deserved"
Castrol Ford Team Türkiye Team Coach Murat Bostancı said that they finally reached the championship they deserved in JWRC.
Stating that they finished the JWRC in third place in 2024 and 2025, Bostancı said, "What changed this year? Ali became the champion. I can say that what changed was luck. Because Ali always had the potential, speed and talent to become a world champion. He even won the first stage of the first race of the year, in which he took the first step into this championship. Therefore, what was not on our side until now, rather than experience, ability and talent, was luck. This year, luck was also on our side. We finally won a championship that we deserved." "We won. We still have a lot to do." he said.
Underlining that, as Castrol Ford Team Türkiye, they have been investing in young people for many years, Bostancı said:
"I was once one of the young pilots of this team. I competed in many championships. There must be a transfer between generations. We are on the way to becoming a motor sports country. We are only in the middle of the road. This inter-generational transfer has started to happen slowly. I am now transferring the experiences I gained in the championships to Ali as the coach of the team. This championship will not end with Ali. We are investing in a generation with pilots 10 years younger than Ali. We have very talented and potential pilots there, too. "There is a very good generation coming, and maybe Ali will do the coaching job I do now."
Murat Bostancı stated that he always tells Ali Türkkan about the mistakes he made and said, "No one shows Lionel Messi how to kick the ball in football. Messi already reaches places because he can make it very special. I don't actually show Ali how to drive, where to press the gas, how much to turn the steering wheel. I inform him about the mistakes I made in my own career and the parts where I stumbled along the way. This is how I stand by him. In a much more correct and smoother way." "I want him to be able to progress. At this point, of course, we fell a little low, but finally the world championship has come, Ali will compete in the higher series next year. We aim to become champions at the highest level of rallying one day." he said.
