Rough And Tumble

Hyundais Hayden Paddon survives a rally of attrition to take his first podium of 2018, even as his teammates title bid gets tricky in Turkey

- Vaishali Dinakaran

On the one hand there’s the sun, the sand and the sea. And on the other, there’s blood, sweat and tears. And this is just the beginning of the dichotomy one can witness in Marmaris where the World Rally Championship has touched down after an eight-year hiatus from Turkey. There are tourists and backpackers, wandering about in leisure, with nary a care in the world. In stark contrast, of course, to everyone involved in the rally, where the clock rules absolutely every move, from the speed at which the drivers tackle each corner, to the speed with which the mechanics must wield their hammers to ensure that they manage to finish flexi service within the 45-minute time frame. And while there are sailboats bobbing along in the Turkish Riviera, many of which have elements of luxury on board, the rally cars that go flying through the stages in Turkey are stripped bare of the nonessential. Every bit and bob is vital, every part on the car critical to being successful in the world of top-flight rallying.