Expert: Adam - 6/6/2005

Question
I believe that the DTM race will be held in Istanbul for the first time this year, would you recommend it as a venue and would it be easy to access by public transport?
I would appreciate your comments and any advice regarding travel arrangements.
Thank you
Hazi
Ireland

Answer
Hello Hazi, thanks for the question.

Yes, this year's DTM goes to Istanbul for the 10th of 11 rounds, so could well see the champion crowned that day (October 2). This year's championship is proving very competitive with 4 different winners in the 4 rounds so far and at last Opel and Audi looking to challenge Mercedes' dominance.

Regarding the Istanbul race, as you probably know, this is a new track and is some 25 miles out of the city. It hosts its maiden F1 race in August and the touring cars will visit shortly afterwards. According to their website (see below), access seems to be by road only, the circuit being a drive from the airport or the city. I guess that means a bus or taxi and I imagine this shouldn't be such a problem for the DTM race, although I fancy for the F1 race it could be pretty congested!

You could try contacting the circuit/organisers (websites below) or the Turkish tourist board for some further insight on the transport/accomodation issues. Also the folks at
Istanbulshotels.com (Fax: 90 (212)520 77 43) seem keen to provide help to the foreign motorsport visitor.

The following websites may be of interest.
http://www.istanbulshotels.com/dtm_2005.htm
http://www.msoistanbul.com/index_e.php
http://www.pitstop.com.my/circuits/default.asp?id=76&year=2005&cat=DTM
http://www.pitstop.com.my/circuits/default.asp?id=103&year=2005&cat=F1

Organisers & further Information:
Motor Sporlarive Organizasyon A.S.
Resadiye Caddesi ITO. Ek Binasi Kat. 1
TR-34112 Eminönü Istanbul
Phone: +90 (0)212 / 5224155
Fax: +90 (0)212 / 5224239
E-Mail: info@msoistanbul.com

Hope this helps,
Adam