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Bostanci: ERC3 campaign the start of something bigger

Turkish driver Murat Bostanci says his foray into the FIA European Rally Championship this year is part of a bigger plan to fight for the overall title in the coming years.

Bostanci has come to the ERC following back-to-back titles in his homeland, but while those were achieved behind the wheel of Super 2000 and R5-specification Ford Fiestas, it's the two-wheel drive R2T model he's using this season as his Castrol Ford Team Turkiye outfit works to develop the car.

"The Fiesta R2T is a new and very promising car in its class," he said. "We have been working closely with M-Sport on the development of this car and we wanted to run this car in ERC3 to show its potential. But the aim is to jump in a Fiesta R5 next year."

After starting his season on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, Bostanci will contest next weekend's SEAJETS Acropolis Rally as well as Kenotek Ypres Rally, Rally Rseszow, Barum Czech Rally Zlín and the Cyprus Rally.

He added: "We are taking this year as a season to get used to ERC and its rallies. There are very special events in ERC on which you need a lot of experience to be competitive. We have some good sponsors but we want to keep our budget for the next two seasons. So this year we are driving a Fiesta R2T in selected rounds.

"My aim is to compete for ERC title in a Fiesta R5 in two to three years."

Zdroj: fiaerc.com