Polish businessman Michal Solowow won the Istanbul Rally after a close battle with fellow Peugeot 207 S2000 driver Luca Betti, which ended when Betti crashed on stage 13. He went off the road when lying second, just 0.1 seconds behind his rival. The two drivers commandeered the lead throughout the two day event, their relative positions dictated by punctures. This was the second round of the FIA's European championship, which Solowow now leads with 21 points against 15 from Mille Miglia winner Giandomenico Basso. Only five of the 13 registered drivers started the event. Of the other registered drivers Bulgarian Todor Slavov retired his Renault Clio R3 on the first stage with engine failure while Bulgarian Krum Donchev was delayed by punctures and finished fifth, ahead of Corrado Fontana (Mitsubishi) who was seriously delayed by brake problems.

Local driver Yagiz Avci, the 2006 Turkish Champion, finished second overall in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9. Another Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 driver Daghan Ünlüdogan is third after in his first attempt with a four wheel drive rally car

Next round of the ERC is the Croatia Delta Rally which will be held on 28 – 30 of May and which counts as the second European Pirelli Star Driver contest.

Last minute: A new date has been announced for the European championship Pirelli Star Driver shoot out, 18/20 September, clashing with the shootout date for the African championship. It will still be held at Freistadt. This news will make Valentin Porcisteanu happy as the initial dates clashed with the Romanian championship round from Arad.

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