Photo: ETCR

Istanbul secures three-year ETCR deal

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Turkey will host the FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup for the next three years following the announcement of a new agreement that will include the creation of an all-new street circuit in Istanbul.

The deal confirms that Turkey will host the all-electric series until at least 2024, with the second round of the current season taking place at the Istanbul Park circuit in May.

For the following two seasons, the Race of Turkey will then switch to an all-new street circuit in the district of Beyoğlu, which will form part of a festival geared around electric mobility.

“Istanbul is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, blending its history as the centre of many world cultures with modern dynamism and permanent transformation,” FIA ETCR series director Xavier Gavory said.

“As Discovery Sports Events [promoter of FIA ETCR], we are pleased to organise the FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup; the groundbreaking 100 per cent electric series that will promote electric mobility in the heart of this vibrant city as a symbol of innovation and sustainability.

“It is our intention to help Istanbul demonstrate the mindblowing power and spectacle of today’s electric cars in the amazing environment that Istanbul will provide over the next three years.”

Eren Üçlertoprağı, president of Turkey’s motorsport federation TOSFED, was also delighted with the announcement.

“As the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation, we are very happy and excited to host the FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup, in which electric cars – the future of the automotive world – compete,” he said.

“Thanks to this race series, which draws attention with its technology and its new concept, we will have the chance to show the beauty of Beyoğlu and Istanbul to the whole world, and to raise awareness about electric cars in a way that will also concern the TOGG [Turkey’s automobile joint-venture group] project, the pride of our country.

“We hope that we can see TOGG participate in this and similar races in the future. In this context, as in all international race organisations, we continue our efforts to organise this race in a way worthy of our country.”