Waiting for the upswing in the East
Formula 1 builds bridges. In the case of the Turkish Grand Prix, which has only been on the calendar since 2005, the bridge links Europe with Asia. This is because the Istanbul Speed Park with its super-modern Grand Prix circuit lies in the Asian section of the city on the Bosporus. And the daily trip there from the centre involves a fascinating journey through the cultures, as you commute between the traditional and the modern.
The ING Race Index, which is to the Formula 1 what the Dow Jones is to the stock exchange, uses continuously updated information to assess the key factors affecting the race circuits, thus allowing them to be compared. The Turkish Grand Prix is well ahead in the slipstream of the leaders.
ING, with its wealth of statistics for Formula 1, has analysed all 17 race circuits from the following aspects:
Strain on drivers Engineering requirements Circuit Vehicle setup Tradition, fascination and emotion of the race Ranging from a low of 0 to a maximum of 100 points, the ING Race Index shows you at a glance the challenges that each course presents.
Strain on drivers
Turn 8 with centrifugal forces of over 5 g brings drivers to the limits of their strain levels. It actually consists of four different corners and is driven fully in sixth gear. A true test of courage indeed. The circuit is not without an element of treachery as the cars sometimes bottom out, lose grip and become unstable. In the ING Race Index the course scores 65 points for driver strain and comes in at seventh position.
Engineering requirements
With 66.5 per cent of the circuit being covered at full throttle, the track in the Istanbul Speed Park has nothing to fear from a comparison with other Grand Prix courses. In contrast, there are only 38 gear shifts per lap, which does not put undue strain on gearboxes. Brake wear is also comparatively low. As a result, the ING Race Index awards 59 points and position 10 for engineering requirements.
Circuit
This is by far the best Grand Prix circuit to be built in recent years. It has many hilly sections and the corner combinations are among the most demanding in Formula 1. Nearly every one of the 14 corners has a different radius, and many have to be entered literally blind. As a result even the best drivers repeatedly make small driving errors, thus providing additional tension. The ING Race Index awards 68 points, which means second place.
Vehicle setup
The circuit poses an interesting challenge for the engineers as well. In addition to the long, sometimes slightly uphill straights, where wind resistance must not be too high, there are also slow passages in which good traction is called for. A high level of aerodynamic efficiency is therefore the key to a fast lap. The ING Race Index awards this complex equation 69 points and position 4.
Tradition, fascination and emotion of the race
Turkey has only been on the Formula 1 world map since 2005. Accordingly, the sport is also new for fans on the Bosporus. Sporting enthusiasm in the country is traditionally high, yet the motorsport culture is naturally not as well-developed as in old Europe. Because of this, the ING Race Index honours the tradition and fascination of this race with only 50 points and position 13.
There is no doubt that Formula 1 has a great future in Turkey. This can also be seen in the overall rating for the ING Race Index: 62 points bring 6th position among the 17 races in the 2007 season.
Formula 1 builds bridges. In the case of the Turkish Grand Prix, which has only been on the calendar since 2005, the bridge links Europe with Asia. This is because the Istanbul Speed Park with its super-modern Grand Prix circuit lies in the Asian section of the city on the Bosporus. And the daily trip there from the centre involves a fascinating journey through the cultures, as you commute between the traditional and the modern.
The ING Race Index, which is to the Formula 1 what the Dow Jones is to the stock exchange, uses continuously updated information to assess the key factors affecting the race circuits, thus allowing them to be compared. The Turkish Grand Prix is well ahead in the slipstream of the leaders.
ING, with its wealth of statistics for Formula 1, has analysed all 17 race circuits from the following aspects:
Strain on drivers Engineering requirements Circuit Vehicle setup Tradition, fascination and emotion of the race Ranging from a low of 0 to a maximum of 100 points, the ING Race Index shows you at a glance the challenges that each course presents.
Strain on drivers
Turn 8 with centrifugal forces of over 5 g brings drivers to the limits of their strain levels. It actually consists of four different corners and is driven fully in sixth gear. A true test of courage indeed. The circuit is not without an element of treachery as the cars sometimes bottom out, lose grip and become unstable. In the ING Race Index the course scores 65 points for driver strain and comes in at seventh position.
Engineering requirements
With 66.5 per cent of the circuit being covered at full throttle, the track in the Istanbul Speed Park has nothing to fear from a comparison with other Grand Prix courses. In contrast, there are only 38 gear shifts per lap, which does not put undue strain on gearboxes. Brake wear is also comparatively low. As a result, the ING Race Index awards 59 points and position 10 for engineering requirements.
Circuit
This is by far the best Grand Prix circuit to be built in recent years. It has many hilly sections and the corner combinations are among the most demanding in Formula 1. Nearly every one of the 14 corners has a different radius, and many have to be entered literally blind. As a result even the best drivers repeatedly make small driving errors, thus providing additional tension. The ING Race Index awards 68 points, which means second place.
Vehicle setup
The circuit poses an interesting challenge for the engineers as well. In addition to the long, sometimes slightly uphill straights, where wind resistance must not be too high, there are also slow passages in which good traction is called for. A high level of aerodynamic efficiency is therefore the key to a fast lap. The ING Race Index awards this complex equation 69 points and position 4.
Tradition, fascination and emotion of the race
Turkey has only been on the Formula 1 world map since 2005. Accordingly, the sport is also new for fans on the Bosporus. Sporting enthusiasm in the country is traditionally high, yet the motorsport culture is naturally not as well-developed as in old Europe. Because of this, the ING Race Index honours the tradition and fascination of this race with only 50 points and position 13.
There is no doubt that Formula 1 has a great future in Turkey. This can also be seen in the overall rating for the ING Race Index: 62 points bring 6th position among the 17 races in the 2007 season.