Anyone going to LMES in Istanbul mid-November?

Anyone going to LMES in Istanbul mid-November?

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bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Friday 14th October 2005
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Just checking for a show of hands, planning a trip to check out the circuit and the TVR boys mash the opposition! :)

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Thursday 20th October 2005
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Thanks! I'll keep away from chickens with snuffles

Be nice to see the circuit and a grandstand seat is £15 for the whole weekend - bargain!

Hansgerd said:
Unfortunately not. Have good fun out there.

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
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I would have thought living in Bodrum you would like to get away from the English
Actually, I think most the teams are staying in Istanbul and travelling in each day.
I think it will be a great end of season do, the circuit looked awesome for the MotoGP, hope we get the same weather!
I noticed the diggers are there at the circuit doing more landscaping.
We'll be there supporting the TVR 1-2-3

togayyuvanc said:
it will be shame if don't go i live in Turkey. it is 14 hours by bus from where i live but i must go.

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
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. . . I wish . . .

john75 said:
Yes I should be going but my team need a driver for LMP2.

So if you have budget and FIA International B email me.

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Wednesday 16th November 2005
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Great circuit with some superb viewing points.

Good race with a monsoon finish, tricky after you've already driven 4-5 hours . . .

Awful attendance (<100 for Saturday, maybe 200 for race day!! Double it if you include drivers and crews!!

Not great day for LNT and TVR

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Wednesday 16th November 2005
quotequote all
hansgerd said:
In the news (www.gt-eins.de) they said that there were some 200 and a hand full of spectators. It's only a guess but I think that a fifth race in let's say sunny Barcelona (it was sunny and 18 degrees warm there last weekend) would have pulled a lot more crowd. I hope they re-think next year's shedule.

>>>>The weather was great when I left yesterday! Think it was like Silverstone, expected good weather and got a wash out. Definately the publicity was poor though.


To be honest, I don't see Turkey as a market for the LMES. It might be a market for F1 but then only because Bernie told them F1 is great. Sorry, but Instanbul neither delivers the spectators for LMES nor does it bring further "active" resources (new local drivers, teams, money) into the series. It's a clear vote for another venue for a fifth LMES race next year (if I were Ratel).

>>>>>They had a few Turkish drivers guesting in LMES as well as the Caterham Cup for local drivers. I had a word with Collard in the Spice Market on Monday and he was very happy with the circuit! The Classic Endurance lot seemed to enjoy the place as well. F1 was a sell-out, I hope the other races there pick up on support. There are a mass of new housing developments next to the circuit, so a few thousand more locals can pop in!



>> Edited by hansgerd on Wednesday 16th November 15:23

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Thursday 17th November 2005
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Believe some teams stayed behind to test at Istanbul. At least they had dry weather!

Ian Lewis said:
I did'nt manage to go but we had Mike Newton and Tommy Erdos over at Oulton Park on Tuesday 15th,fresh from thier succsess (First in class LM2 6th overall)in Istanbul.

Mike and Tommy were giving hot laps to the marshals in a 4.5 V8 engined Osprey.

Thanks to Mike and Tommy.

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Thursday 17th November 2005
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PS Spyker sounded awesome - like a NASCAR

bobski

Original Poster:

1,589 posts

265 months

Thursday 17th November 2005
quotequote all
Hi,

I think they were a little unlucky with the weather over the weekend, but I still think there was little to no publicity. I noticed that even the posters for MotoGP didn't have dates on them!

With regards to transport, some people went by boat/train/taxi from European side and any minibus or taxi was at least 50 Euros per person. They still talk about the chaos during the F1 race, but there is a toll booth off the motorway at istanbul Park, I hope this was closed for the race!

We also reached a dead end when trying to walk around the circuit perimeter.

The irony is if the races were all better attended then they would secure these for years to come . . . Hungary has managed it for nearly 20 years and it is only used one week a year . . .

Here's hoping . .

togayyuvanc said:
Truly, i didn't like the organization.TOMSFED(motorsports federation of Turkey) have dissapointed me and also crowd that i see at race day. there were nearly 100-150 people in maingradstand. i think there were more foreigners than Turks.Turkey is a good market for F1 but not for GT or LMES.my weekend was like a nightmare. mass transportation was poor i had to hitchhike when i was turning back from the track.Though i did enjoyed at the racei took lots of photos.the weather was cold.half of the track were closed(thanks to the security!!).i think i won't be going to Istanbul park again till i work with a team or i buy a car.
during the race day,in Istanbul, it was rainy and cold, In Bodrum it was sunny and the weather was around 21 degrees.why shoulnd't they built the track to the south of Turkey.

anyway these were my opinions on race week.i enjoyed about 6 hours in 3 days.