Champion Atar Returns With a Win

The opening races of the season in the AVIS 2026 Turkish Circuit Racing Championship produced some thoroughly hard-fought moments in front of a large crowd.

BACK ON THE CIRCUITS AFTER 8 YEARS

In the Maxi class, Izmir's Galip Atar, returning to circuit racing after an eight-year break, won the first race and finished second in the second, proving he has lost none of his old pace. Racing for Sesa European GT Team in a BMW M4 GT4 with SHELL support, Atar will contest the remaining races of the season with the aim of winning the Maxi class championship.

In Maxi, Team AMS's young driver Berk Kalpaklıoğlu finished third in the first race and third again in the second. Seda Kaçan Bakan of Team AMS, who set the fastest time in qualifying, took second in the first race, while her team-mate Umut Göktaş claimed victory in the second.

A total of 25 drivers took to the track in the Maxi and Super classes at the races organised by TOSFED at Istanbul Park, with the support of AVIS, Spor Toto, Tuzla Municipality and Salados. The adrenaline-filled weekend at Istanbul Park also featured the TOSFED Track Faest event, where participants were able to drive on the circuit in their own cars.

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR ORÇUN İNCE

At the end of the 12-lap Maxi and Super class races, Orçun İnce won both races in the Super class. Kaan Marangoz was second and İbrahim Özbıyık third in the first race, while in the second race Murat Gürakan of Team ADD was second and Recep Çelikkanat third to complete the podium.

In the first race of the AVIS 2026 Turkish Circuit Racing Championship, Texaco Team AMS also took the teams' victory.