Hi all,

I am thinking of going to the Turkish GP next year.

any tips on which stands is best to stay (for a good view and for some photos) and which are the best areas to rent an apartment or hotel?

thanks

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i'll be going along so i'll ask a few questions here... and my main issue is the fencing. i read that there is unusually high fencing so anyone can provide any tips to avoid it (like is sitting as high as possible on a grandstand enough to avoid fencing)? and are the places where you can avoid fencing any good for watching action?

thanks

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Hi maltafan and scermat,

Welcome to İstanbul in advance. I hope you really enjoy being here

I watched 2008 race in general admission area, which was effectively the grass, looking at the first corner towards third corner. I could be able to watch cars for at least 5-6 seconds, enough for me to take their photos. I really don't know about grandstands but it was not that expensive this year compared to that of those in Silverstone. For example, general admission area was 100 Turkish liras (~ 60 Euros) and main grandstand was appr. 700 Turkish liras (~ 450 Euro).

You can see the photos I shot from general admission area here --> viewtopic.php?p=53816#p53816 / viewtopic.php?p=53941#p53941

Track is far far away from the center of the city but municipality arranges some ring services from and to the track every half an hour from and to the city center (which is Taksim). As you can use free ring buses very efficiently, you can stay at Taksim. Here is a very clean and tidy hostel --> http://www.chillouthc.com/ (There are actually 3 hostels all of them belonging to chillouthc. There is a big and cheerful street in Taksim, where you really enjoy walking and listening to some street musicians. Two of these three hostels are on this street [İstiklal Street] and one of them is in Galata, which is quite near Taksim effectively in the other end of İstiklal Street)

As far as I know, the town where the track is built has developed since the first race and may offer some accomodation facilities. I haven't seen them just heard of it but you may consider staying as close as track by staying in a hotel in Akfırat district. They might be a little expensive so it's up to you. But, I advise you to stay and be in Taksim, which is the safest, easiest and cheerful thing to do.

Have lots of fun

Btw, it's İstanbul


Yeah, fences are really disgusting. I watched the race from general admission area and fences were really a big problem as you can see from the photos I shot. It may be a problem for the first corner grandstand (Silver Tribun 1) too so you should sit on higher seats. I don't know the situation for other grandstands as I only happened to see Main Grandstand and Silver Tirbun 1.

One more tip --> After race is finished, marshalls may forget to open the doors of fences and so you may not enter into the track. If you sit anywhere near fences, you should jump out of them and get into the track. If not, just be near fences as soon as race is finished

Note: If you need any help in İstanbul, you can call me anytime. I can give you my GSM number

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"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying" -Woody Allen

thanks very much for your info,Ali.

Do you know where is best to stay so as to have a good view?

The plan was for Silver3 stand 7 maybe, but the higher fences, may alter a bit our plans. I hope that the higher stands will free from fences.

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Nope, I don't know but as soon as I get any information about the perfect grandstands, I'll inform you. As far as I know, 2009 race tickets are not available for now so you have some time, I guess, before deciding.

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"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying" -Woody Allen

thanks Ali,

Yes, tickets are not out yet.

Also, is the EURO widely accepted there or I have to get US Dollars with me?

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No no, Euro should be OK.

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"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying" -Woody Allen

Hello guys, I've visited Turkish GP last year and I can advise you GOLD 2 tribune, which is located right in front of 1st coner, so you're able to see all the start-action and fighting there (especially for Porsche Supercup!). There's a big screen infront of the stands, so you can watch TV-coverage. And, what's more, it's quite good place for taking fotos as well. You're quite close to the track, which goes a little bit downhill at that place, so the fence is not a problem, you'll have a clear view.


And one more thing! This stand is covered, so you are watching race, sitting in the shadow! This is huuuge advantage in really hot Turkey!

Nice pics artem57

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Desire has no limits

thanks for your advice Artem, and those pics are really great. Good tip about the covered stand.

thanks

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You're welcome Thanks for admitting my pictures

Update: I have just got some information from a moderator of a Turkish F1 site. Here he says: "First of all, you should know you'll get cooked under the sun as all stands but main grandstand have no sunshade roof on top of it. If your friends will envisage being cooked, I advise them to buy seats from the stand (number 7) looking at back straight and last turn, where generally lots of passes take place. Also they can buy ticket from the stand seeing Turn 4, 5, 6 ve 7, which is effectively the stand number 3. The stand looking at Turn 8 has poor visibility, indeed you can't see anything from big TV screens."

I hope this info can help you.

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"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying" -Woody Allen

let's see if I understood correctly... you've stayed on the grass and paid 60 euros for the whole weekend? as far as I know you cant't buy a general admission ticket if you don't have a stand ticket... Am I wrong or confused?
nice pictures, btw...

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'Life is about passions. Thank you for sharing mine.'

Not the whole weekend but the race day. General admission area ticket is enough to watch the race on grass or places specifically devoted to those. You don't have to have a stand ticket as far as İstanbul circuit is concerned. I don't know the situation of other circuits.

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"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying" -Woody Allen

my mistake... I was thinking of something else... there are some tracks where you can buy a ticket, if you already have a stand ticket, which gives you access in pitbox at some point... other tracks let you in pitbox with any type of ticket... but not at valencia... do you, guys, have any ideea what are the tracks where you can visit the pitbox?

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'Life is about passions. Thank you for sharing mine.'