Onat, 18, Becomes the First Star

The first season of the TOSFED Seeks a Star project, organised by the Turkish Motorsport Federation (TOSFED) with FIAT and Petlas sponsorship to discover talented drivers under 25, came to a close with Races 3 and 4 at Körfez Race Track on 9-10 June.

Onat Telkenar won Round 3 on Saturday 9 June to make it three wins from three, securing the cup victory ahead of the final race. Reha Aybey finished second in Round 3, with Mert Kaya taking third.

Excitement ran high in the final race

Race 4, the final race, run at Körfez Race Track on Sunday 10 June alongside the second round of the Turkish Drift Championship, was hard fought. Emre Şentürk, who set the fastest lap of the day, lifted the winner's cup, with Reha Aybey second on the podium and Onat Telkenar third.

They made the top three from 320 candidates

After the selection rounds and finals, 10 male and 2 female drivers, chosen from 320 candidates, competed in four races in different formats in specially prepared Fiat Egea race cars. The 2017 season ended with victory for 18-year-old Onat Telkenar. Telkenar won the TOSFED Seeks a Star project for the first time with 55 points after four races, with Emre Şentürk second and Mert Kaya third.

Representing Turkey in Europe

With these results, the top three, Onat Telkenar, Emre Şentürk and Mert Kaya, earned the right to compete for TOSFED in the Egea Youth Cup. The young drivers will compete free of charge in the cup, which begins with the Aegean Rally on 14-15 July, in Fiat Egea Hatchback rally cars developed by Tofaş R&D and the Fiat Motorsport Team. TOSFED's first star, Onat Telkanar, also earns special driver training in Finland and the chance to contest a race abroad.