Formula 1™, one of the world’s most important sporting events, is returning to Intercity Istanbul Park after 9 years
On 15th November, after a gap of nine years, Intercity Istanbul Park will be playing host to Formula 1TM, the world’s most important motorsports event. Formula 1TM will be coming back to Istanbul as part of its 2020 schedule, returning to the country that hosted the Formula 1TM Grand Prix between 2005 and 2011.
Formula 1™ is followed by millions of viewers around the world and is one of the key sporting events at which countries showcase themselves. The 14th race of the season, Formula 1 DHL Turkish Grand Prix 2020, will take place at Intercity Istanbul Park on the 13th, 14th and 15th November.
Vural Ak, chairman of the Intercity board, pointed out that Intercity had been awarded the project of bringing Formula 1™ races back to Turkey by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. Ak continued, "We are both delighted and proud to announce that we are bringing Formula 1™, the world’s biggest motorsport events, back to Turkey. Ever since 2013, when we took over management of Intercity Istanbul Park, one of the most extraordinary tracks in the world, we have been striving to reintroduce Formula 1™ to Turkey. We are overjoyed for our country that our efforts have been successful. During that time, we have been taking meticulous care of Intercity Istanbul Park, one of our country’s most valuable investments, and we are extremely excited by the prospect of preparing the venue for the Formula 1™ event, so that we can ensure that Istanbul receives the attention from the world it truly deserves.”
Mr. Ak added, “In signing the contract, we as Intercity pledged to undertake all obligations ourselves. Given the great challenges currently facing the world and Turkey, it was crucial that, while endeavouring to bring Formula 1™ back to Turkey, we did not place any burden on our state. Throughout the project, however, we felt the constant support of our state, and for this we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has assisted, above all to his Excellency the President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.”
Dreaming since 2013
Vural Ak stressed that, ever since taking over the management rights of the Intercity Istanbul Park in 2013, Intercity had been working with great dedication and care to bring Formula 1™ races back to Turkey. He explained, “Since the very first day we took over the management of Intercity Istanbul Park, one of the most remarkable motorsports tracks in the world, every year we have organised more than 300 days of events, educational programs and festivals related to motorsports, traffic safety and the automotive sector. One of the key factors that led the management of Formula 1™ to include Istanbul in its 2020 schedule was the fact that, throughout the past nine years, even when races were not taking place, we always kept the track active and prepared, as if races could resume at any moment.”