From Simulator to Circuit with TOSFED

The Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) has launched its Mobile Training Simulator project, designed to discover talent among primary school pupils aged 7-11, introduce motorsport and strengthen the sport's grassroots foundations.

Selected for the support programme from among 850 projects submitted by the 146 member countries of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the Mobile Training project is one of 10 chosen and will reach around 16,000 children across 40 different cities in Anatolia. Using simulators designed specifically for children by the project's technology sponsor Apex Racing, participants get a taste of karting on the TOSFED Körfez Circuit, a virtual recreation made for the project.

The project will tour Anatolia, starting in Ankara, and run for around six months. The most talented prospects identified at the end will receive racing training on high-end simulators, before competing in digital tournaments. The plan is then to form a team, particularly for karting, from the most successful names.

Commenting on the project, TOSFED Deputy President Nisa Ersoy said: "Thanks to the Mobile Training Simulator, we will support talented children with advanced training and bring them into our grassroots programme. After the successful children have completed their training, we will form a team and enable these young prospects to compete in karting races. By touring Anatolia with this project, we aim to promote our sport, create opportunities for new talents who can represent our country abroad in the near future, and develop young drivers for international platforms."