24th-26th August 2007 - 12th of 17 World Championship races
After a short respite from racing and testing, Formula One enters the final spurt of the season on 26th August in Istanbul. This challenging circuit on the Asian side of the teeming city on the Bosphorus joined the Formula One calendar in 2005 and requires the Formula One trucks to travel the furthest distance of the season.
Nick Heidfeld: "Last year, as part of an appearance for our partner Intel, I had my first opportunity to see a bit more of the city. Istanbul with its location on the Bosphorus is fascinating, but the congestion and traffic conditions are chaotic. I will be using a BMW motorbike again to get from the city centre to the race track in a fairly predictable time.
"The race in 2006 was disappointing. Sixth place on the grid was good, but I was hit by Giancarlo Fisichella in the first corner and ultimately only just managed to coax a damaged car across the finishing line. The circuit does have overtaking possibilities, which is very good. It has an extremely long straight and there are slow and high-speed corners. Turn 8 is a favourite of mine: it's very fast and difficult."
Robert Kubica:"An amazing circuit - Turn 8 has already staked its claim to fame. Most drivers find this section quite a challenge. It is very long and in fact consists of four different bends. It's great fun as soon as you've got your line sorted out. The circuit can also be pretty vicious, because occasionally you bottom out, lose traction and the car becomes unstable. We weren't particularly fast there in 2006. I hope things will look better in 2007."
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "The short summer break has been a welcome one for our race and testing team. The mechanics and engineers in particular were glad of at least a few days off after the energy-sapping weeks and months.
"But, of course, work continued full speed ahead in Munich and Hinwil even after the race in Hungary. Having established ourselves as the third strongest team in the constructors' championship and built up a decent buffer of points between us and our nearest rivals, we certainly don't want to relinquish that position for the remainder of the season.
"The Turkish GP is a positive addition to the Formula One calendar. They have created an excellent facility with a highly successful track layout on the Asian side of Istanbul. For the team's partners, the city itself offers plenty of event opportunities. Logistically, as well, this GP is exceptional, involving the furthest distance for the teams with their trucks and motorhomes to travel from central Europe. The situation is eased a little thanks to the break that precedes this long trek."
Willy Rampf, Technical Director:"The Istanbul Park offers everything you need for an interesting circuit. It has slow sections that demand good traction, but there is also the notorious Turn 8, for example, which consists of four parts but is taken in one line at around 250 km/h. Due to long, partly uphill straights, the choice on this circuit is for a medium downforce level. High aerodynamic efficiency is the key to fast lap times. On account of its various corner combinations, the Istanbul Park is a challenging track from a driver's point of view and calls for precise handling. In our recent races we were very strong and have further improved the F1.07, and so I anticipate another good showing on the part of our team."
For facts and figures please see the attached document.
After 11 out of 17 World Championship races, the BMW Sauber F1 Team is in third place in the constructors' standings with 71 points.
History and background: Istanbul encompasses the southern Bosphorus, the strait that divides it into a western European and an eastern Asian side. The Golden Horn is a narrow westward-running inlet of the Bosphorus which separates the European part of the city into a southern peninsula flanked by the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn, where the historic Istanbul is located, and the Galata district to the north of the Golden Horn.
The city limits enclose an area of 1,538.77 square kilometres, with the metropolitan region of Istanbul extending to 5,220 square kilometres. Istanbul's population rose from 680,000 in 1927 to 1.3 million in 1955. The figure in 1975 was 2.5 million, since when it has quadrupled to some ten million inhabitants today. Around a third live on the Asian side.
The circuit designed by Aachen-based architect Herman Tilke is a rollercoaster track with six right-handers and eight left-handers. Races are run counterclockwise and the start/finish straight is 655.5 metres long. The complex in Tuzla Tepeören on the Asian side of the city straddling the Bosphorus accommodates 130,000 spectators.
