Farewell to Istanbul

[Shrieker]

I've been tipped by a reliable source that this year's GP will be the last one The culprit is Mr. E. himself demanding 26 million Euros hosting fee, instead of the 13-13.5 M one that was in place according to some reports. Maybe there'll be a last ditch effort to save the GP, but very doubtfull IMHO

[alberto222mx]

It would be a shame, is the best Tilke's track

[WhiteBlue]

Great shame, it is probably the best GP track behind Spa in terms of elevation changes. It appears that Bernie will ax it to put Austin on without increasing the number of GPs. I'm totally against it.

[volarchico]

With the Bahrain turmoil, maybe he won't have to ax Istanbul to keep the same number of tracks for next year with the addition of Austin.

[andrew]

Bit of a change of tune since 2007:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6583387.stm

Anyway, found a report on it here.

To be fair to MrE, if CVC are having to reduce their debts then it makes perfect sence to loose a loss leader like Istanbul Park. It is the least attended race, due in part to the cheapest ticket being £230, around the level of the more expensive tickets for Silverstone but I guess the less people that attend the higher the ticket prices are be the organisers.

Shame for Turkey but there are plenty superior circuits that should have an F1 race over Istanbul Park.

[kalinka]

I know it's unrealistic, and safety is 1st and blah..blah...but I very much miss Imola or Kyalami. These are real old-school tracks, and I wouldnt miss turkey against these, but...nevermind.

[Pingguest]

In recent years the grandstands stayed quite empty. With the removing Turkey from the calendar Formula 1 won't lose much, I think.

[beelsebob]

In recent years the grandstands stayed quite empty. With the removing Turkey from the calendar Formula 1 won't lose much, I think.

It's not like we're really losing much anyway – Tilke copied most of the track anyway when designing korea.

[timbo]

A shame. I planned traveling there but due to some circumstances won't be able to do this year...

[chasefreak]

lets keep a watch out for the indian gp.... i heard the track is a drivers paradise

[ESPImperium]

Just a pitty the track cannot be airlifted to Austin or where ever Mr E. wants a new GP.

Istabbul Park is probably the best Tilke track, probably just above Sepang.

[forty-two]

I must have dreamt it, but I understood that Istanbul was promoted by MrE himself, so was not subject to the "fee"? I must have been mistaken.

[Shrieker]

I must have dreamt it, but I understood that Istanbul was promoted by MrE himself, so was not subject to the "fee"? I must have been mistaken.

AFAIK it was (and still is) forty-two. The government does the financing. That's 13 Million Euros of tax payers' money.

[Florio]

A great shame. I think it's the only Tilke track in which i've enjoyed some decent racing for quite some time.

[adrianjordan]

The only thing I'll miss about the Istanbul circuit is Turn 8.