Çetinkaya to make IRC return in Scotland

Burcu Çetinaya will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for the first time in almost a year when she tackles RACMSA Rally of Scotland this week.

Çetinaya and co-driver Çiçek Güney became the first female crew to score IRC points when they finished seventh in Scotland last season.

After contesting the season-closing Cyprus Rally last November, funding restrictions have limited them to a handful of Turkish championship rounds only in 2011.

But after securing backing from the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports, Spor Toto, Ansell, Red Bull, Sonax, Golden Bay Tourism, Yokohama, Dexter and Teknotel, Çetinaya and Güney will enter the season-closing rounds in Scotland and Cyprus.

They will drive a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 for René Georges’ Belgium-based team with guidance from former European champion Simon Jean-Joseph and Turkish title-winner Ercan Kazaz.

RACMSA Rally of Scotland will take place from 7-9 November. The Cyprus Rally runs from 3-5 November. Both events will enjoy live coverage on Eurosport.