The Turkish installation of the Formula 1 Grand Prix is set to return to Istanbul Park after a five-year hiatus.
This was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a promotional programme for the Formula 1 Turkiye Grand Prix in Istanbul on April 24.
“I believe that Formula 1’s return from 2027 will add significant value to the championship,” said Erdogan.
Set for a five-year run until 2031, the races are expected to bring hundreds of thousands of fans to Istanbul racing circuits, boosting Turkish tourism and generating millions of dollars in revenue.
Major tourism, income boost
“The first race in 2005 broke a record in the history of the Republic with over 110,000 spectators in the stands alone,” Erdogan noted, adding that the sport has reached approximately 19 million people in Turkey.
With the return of Formula 1 to Istanbul racing circuits, Turkey is set to welcome over 200,000 domestic and local visitors.
It is also expected to generate US$200 million to US$250 million in annual revenue.
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Istanbul as a bridge between sports, tourism
Istanbul Park’s close proximity to the city centre allows fans to explore the city’s famous tourist hotspots such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar market.
“As a city, Istanbul represents a cultural gateway between Europe and Asia, offering a unique blend of history and tradition with a forward-thinking approach to sport, business, and entertainment,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1.
“Many memorable moments have been made in our sport’s history at Istanbul Park.”
“I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our partnership, allowing fans to experience even more incredible racing in a truly fantastic location,” Domenicali added.
Turkey’s history with the Grand Prix
The Formula 1 Turkiye Grand Prix was first held in Istanbul in 2005.
It ran for seven seasons until 2011.
It briefly returned during the 2020-2021 season before being replaced by the Austrian Grand Prix due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions imposed on red list countries, which included Turkey at the time.
Istanbul Park, which hosted the races, was designed by German racing engineer Hermann Tilke.
It was hailed as “the best race track in the world” by former Formula 1 chair Bernie Ecclestone.
Istanbul Park’s 5.338-kilometre-long race track and lengthy, high-speed turn eight were regarded as one of the most challenging corners in the history of Grand Prix.
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