Istanbul Park is a spectacular motor racing facility located just outside the famous Turkish city. Designed by renowned German architect Herman Tilke, the 5.338 kilometre (3.317 mile) circuit celebrated its official opening in August 2005 with the inaugural Turkish Grand Prix.Since then the track has established itself as a firm favourite with the racing fraternity. Featuring 14 challenging bends and an unusual anti-clockwise layout, it is considered a benchmark test of both driver and car, and the multi-apex Turn Eight has already gone down in Formula One folklore as one of the sport’s toughest corners.
It’s also fast, with two long straights that see the cars reach speeds of over 330 km/h, while its mixture of fast and slow corners means there are plenty of overtaking opportunities. Adding to the circuit’s spectacle are dramatic gradient changes - over the course of a lap, the track’s elevation varies by almost 46 metres.
For spectators too, Istanbul Park’s facilities are incomparable. The track has a seating capacity for more than 130,000 fans, 25,000 of whom can enjoy the action from the track’s main grandstand. There is also parking available for over 12,000 vehicles. Guests of honour are entertained in the two seven-storey VIP towers which dominate the skyline at either end of the paddock. Each tower can accommodate 5,000 people, and both offer excellent views during races - as well as suburb corporate hospitality all year round.
With its state-of-the-art facilities, ground-breaking layout and exotic location, Istanbul Park is one of the world’s most highly-regarded racing circuits - and a must-visit destination for any serious motorsport fan.
| Circuit Type | Race |
| Designer | Hermann Tilke |
| Construction cost | € 80 million |
| Capacity | 125,000 approx |
| First Race Held | 2005 |
| Time zone | GMT +2 |
| Circuit Length | 5.338 km (3.317 mi) |
| Race length | 309.396 km (192.249 mi) |
| Circuit Turns | 14 |
| Circuit Direction | Anti-clockwise |
| Number of races held | 6 |
| Lap record | 1:24.770 (Juan Pablo Montoya 2005) |
Hi Sam K
ReplyDeleteIstanbul Park
For all the excellent design and facilites of the Istanbul Park track, and the firm racing favouritism the drivers harbour for the track layout, challenging features and elevation interests; there is an "Elephant in the Room" issue here that FOM seems to want to ignore.
Apart from the visiting F1 Teams, and a hardy bunch of travelling gypsy F1 enthusiasts (coming predominantly from across Europe); no locals ever turns up! At least not in any numbers for event healthy profitability. That is a crying shame, since the Track is so awesome.
Without getting into the FOM licensing fee (Shylock's pound of flesh), and the recent demand for a doubling of that fee for next year to Turkish GP organisers; the event has ALWAYS struggled to get any 'base of local turk attandance numbers' because of simply unreasonable pricing structure. One presumes to try and earn enough to pay FOM race-fee and the incurred yearly event overheads.
One problem there: The locals are not exactly numerous in experienced or motivated fans of F1, AND... they are not exactly high average per capita earners $$$. Why would they part with the equivalent of a 'months house rent', just to go have a look at the F1 circus thingy!
All very sad, cos' I love the Turkish GP at Istanbul Park, and look forward to it as an International Fan every year. Given Bernie Ecclestone's wants to move races into Texas USA and Russia in 2012; it is no surprise he is using an knowingly unsustainable FOM licene fee hike of 200% to drop this GP into the anals of history.
I really hate how business and polotics currently usurp the worth of tracks for their inherent value to RACING and SPECTACLE.
yours... Jack Flash