Turkey to host World Rally Championship 2018

Turkey's popular resort town Marmaris will host the 10th leg of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in September 2018, a Turkish motorsports body said Wednesday.

Turkey's Automotive Sports Federation (TOSFED) said in a statement that the decision came after officials from the International Automotive Federation (FIA) visited Marmaris Rally held on Turkey's southwestern coast over the weekend.

The Marmaris Rally is considered a rehearsal event after Turkey was included into the WRC calendar.

Officials from the international motorsports body including its Rally Commission Head Jarmo Mahonen and Safety Delegate Michele Mouton came to Marmaris to observe the rally, read the statement.

The officials praised the quality of the stages, the statement added.

Officials from M-Sport World Rally Team and Toyota Gazoo Racing, both competing at the WRC next year, also examined the site, the statement also said.

WRC's Promoting Director Oliver Ciesla thanked the TOSFED team. "I congratulate their return to the 2018 calendar," Ciesla said.

The 2018 rally in Marmaris will be held in a forest by the sea, Ciesla said, adding it will create a wonderful view.

TOSFED head Serkan Yazici said they had worked very hard to bring the rally to Turkey again. He thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak and other officials for their support to host the rally.

"We are very happy that World Rally Championship is back to our country and we will work very hard to hold an amazing event," Yazici added.