The meeting also included Turkey’s former rally champion and current World Motor Sport Council member Serkan Yazici, along with the president of the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED), Eren Uclertopragi.
Discussions focused on Turkey’s potential return to the pinnacle of motorsport.
“It was a pleasure to meet with President Erdogan. Our talks centred on a range of topics. We discussed the possibility of a return of Formula 1 and WRC to Turkey,” Ben Sulayem stated, according to Motorsport.com.
“President Erdogan also recognises the importance of the economic and cultural impact which world-class motorsport – Formula 1 and WRC – brings to the country,” added the FIA president.
Turkey has hosted a round of the World Rally Championship nine times previously. From 2018 to 2020, the event was held in the Marmaris region.
“TOSFED, our Member Club in Turkey, have a wealth of experience in organising and managing major motorsport events. If the stars align, we could see a return of both world-class events to Turkey,” Ben Sulayem remarked.
Rally Turkey held near Marmaris was known for its grueling nature. The rally was run in scorching conditions, and the rough gravel roads with huge loose rocks put the cars to a real test.
Turkey is unlikely to return to the WRC calendar next year. However, several other countries have already been linked with speculation for the calendar of the next year and the 2026 season.
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