Breaking news
Formula 1 Turkish GP
Turkish GP sold 40,000 tickets within six hours of sale
Organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix have announced that they sold over 40,000 tickets in just six hours after tickets for the return of Formula 1 to Istanbul were put on sale.
Abdullah Çelik
Published: Sep 16, 2020, 4:56 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After a nine-year absence, Turkey will return to the F1 calendar on 15th November at Istanbul Park.
Turkey is one of the several new or returning venues to be added to the 2020 schedule due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, joining Mugello, Imola, Portimao and the Nurburgring.
Vural Ak, the chairman of promoter Intercity, had said at a press conference last month that the public will be allowed at the venue and they were hoping for 100,000 spectators on race day - roughly half its full capacity of 220,000. Limited tickets for the event were priced at 30 Turkish Lira (TL) (£3) per day for a limited time and there was a huge demand for the entry-level tickets.
Intercity has announced that it managed to sell 10,000 campaign tickets within the first hour, and added another 30,000 tickets on sale over the next five hours for a total of 40,000 tickets. Although the last Turkish GP in 2011 failed to attract spectators in abundance, Ak is adamant that the promoters can reach its planned goal of 100,000 trackside fans this year.
“We were planning to fill the full capacity, 220,000 seats, under normal circumstances but it’s not possible with COVID-19,” Ak said. “Before us, this organisation was without [an] owner. We are passionate and enthusiastic about this sport and we can organise it successfully. But, as you know, there is COVID-19. That’s why we hope to bring about 100,000 people.”
While being open to the possibility of a spike in coronavirus cases forcing a change of plan, Ak said he believes protocols put in place could ensure a bumper crowd.
"We have to be prepared for anything," he said. "If the disease becomes worse than today, then the race can be done without spectators. However, we know the capacity of this track. Around 220,000 spectators can watch the race in the grandstands and in the open areas.
"At the moment for safety reasons, if we close some sections, about 100,000 spectators will be able to watch the race by following social distancing rules."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe and why is he linked to the Mercedes F1 team?
Next article Vettel says reverse grid races "completely wrong"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
Latest news
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
2 h
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
8 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe