The new Istanbul GP circuit

[FourWheelDrift]

Another Herman Tilke design. - www.msoistanbul.com

Lots of starts and stops, doesn't look very flowing or somewhere where you can get a good rhythm. The F1 cars will be racing on it in August.

[robsinfield]

I've mentioned this circuit in an article published at the esteemed Grand Prix com. Yes, yet another Tilke circuit and not unlike his botch job on the A1 Ring. I guess we'll have to reserve judgement until August though..

Rob

[D_Mike]

I wish they would employ somebody else to design the tracks for once... just because 1 person has done a few doesn't mean he should do all new ones. I'd like to see tracks with lots of almost flat out corners and lots of elevation change, lots of bumps, a few off camber corners and some corners with several different lines you can take... no chicanes.

[Eric Mc]

The notion that you can create a "GP" track out of nothing is, to me, an anathema. These new tracks are being designed and built with one purpose in mind only, to host a World Championship F1 race. To me, GP racing is about driving on "natural" circuits - indeed, public roads where possible. These purpose built FI boreodromes are useless.

And what about other forms of motor racing? Many of these new circuits sit idle for the other 362 days of the year. They have no connection with real motor racing or real motor sport.


>> Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 17th April 14:26

[robsinfield]

Not sure that last point applies to Istanbul, as far as I know they are also holding a round of the Le Mans championship (whatever its called) and the DTM, with other series going there too, but you are right in that its sole purpose in being is basically for F1.

Rob.

[Ahonen]

robsinfield said:

...as far as I know they are also holding a round of the Le Mans championship (whatever its called)...

LMES: Le Mans Endurance Series.

[Eric Mc]

That is the case. These circuits are built to pull in F1 - then they try to attarct other series if they can. The notion of a race track being pre-built with general motor racing in mind and THEN being selected for a GP seems to be extinct.