TOSFED Establishes Disability Commission

The Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) announced on 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, that it has established a Disability Commission to enable disabled citizens to take on roles at events and to compete in motorsport as athletes.

The TOSFED Disability Commission will work jointly with the commission set up by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on disability and accessibility, and will strive to remove the barriers that prevent disabled drivers with an interest in motorsport, as well as disabled road car users, from taking part in the sport. Aiming to carry out its work in four main areas – sporting, projects, education and R&D – the commission will operate under the chairmanship of Ayhan Metin, with Erdem Öksüz as General Coordinator.

Commenting on the commission, TOSFED President Eren Üçlertoprağı said that, on the road towards the goal of bringing motorsport to every segment of society, the federation had created the commission for disabled people, whom it regards as valuable individuals. "Together with our disabled friends, we will keep the vision of motorsport in a broader perspective and carry out very successful work. We believe there is a great deal we can learn from them," said Üçlertoprağı.

TOSFED Disability Commission Chairman Ayhan Metin said the commission had set out with aims such as introducing motorsport to all disadvantaged individuals, developing solutions that will enable disabled people to become involved in motorsport, organising workshops, carrying out relevant research and contributing to regulations.

Erdem Öksüz, Deputy President of the Ankara Automobile Sports Club, who will serve as the commission's General Coordinator, said that work had progressed quickly thanks to the support and ideas of TOSFED President Eren Üçlertoprağı in setting up the commission. "We aim to be the national federation that follows the work of the International Automobile Federation most closely. In addition to making motorsport accessible to disabled individuals, we also want to contribute to work on road and traffic legislation," said Öksüz.