Loaction: Istanbul Park, Istanbul
Raceday: Sunday, 27 Aug 2006
Time: 2000 (+8 GMT)
2005 winner: K Raikonnen
Number of laps: 58
Circuit length: 5.378 Km
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Turkey made its debut on the Formula One calendar in 2005 with an
all-new purpose-built circuit in Istanbul. The spectacular 5.378
kilometre track is designed by famed German architect Hermann
Tilke, the man behind Sepang, Bahrain and Shanghai, and features 14
turns - eight lefts and six rights - with the cars reaching speeds
of up to 330 km/h.
An unusual feature of the venue is that the lap runs
anti-clockwise, making the Turkish Grand Prix only the third race
on the calendar to do so (San Marino and Brazil are the other two).
It possesses a wide variety of corners, and while perhaps not as
technical as, say, Shanghai, it definitely provides the drivers
with real challenge, especially given the reduced downforce
available from 2005.
The character of the circuit is further enhanced by plenty of
gradients - the track is built on four different ground levels.
There may be fewer obvious overtaking opportunities than at some
other Tilke circuits - it doesn't feature the long straights
followed by tight hairpins that characterise the likes of Sepang
and Shanghai - but the potential for a driver under pressure to
make a mistake here means no shortage of passing.
As you'd expect from a new venue, spectator facilities are
impressive - organisers knew they had to rival the very high
standards set by Bahrain and China in 2004. Seating capacity is
around 130,000, with 25,000 of those in the main grandstand, and
parking is available for 12,000 cars. Dominating the circuit's
skyline are two seven-floor VIP towers at either end of the
paddock.