A Brand New Season

With Serkan Yazıcı, one of the legendary names of our motorsport community, winning the TOSFED presidential election, a brand new chapter has opened in our sport. Whoever I spoke to, there was always a label – he is this person's man, that person's man, and so on. Now we have a president free of such accusations, someone everyone can unite around. President Serkan knows very well how difficult the job is. A thousand different obstacles confront the president every day. There are even rumours already going around that the president will quit without waiting for the next election. There are many plans, and the knowledge and strength to take the sport to a different level. I am sure that many of the things planned will be put into practice and that the next election will be won too.

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2016 will be a good year for off-road... The fact that, as part of President Serkan's new project, the 'Motorsport Festival', off-road will come together with the other disciplines at Istanbul Park, and that an off-road expo is also planned at Istanbul Park, are the points that excite us. Our season also starts on 19 March in Karabük. The six-round Turkish Off-road Championship, the seven-round Turkish Trial Championship and the five-round Black Sea Local Off-road Cup will all be full of excitement until the last minute.

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Preparations are in full swing for the 2016 TransAnatolia, the world's second toughest rally raid, planned for 20-27 August. The event, which expects 100 entries this year, will start from Izmir. Talks with an important title sponsor are continuing, and a day-by-day broadcast of the event on NTV is on the agenda. After last year's event was dominated by motorcycles, it is becoming clear that 4x4s will also have a strong presence this year. What is more, at least 10 vehicles are expected to compete even in the ATV and UTV categories, and 3-4 of those will be new, local competitors. With the growing importance given to the raid category, a much more enjoyable week awaits those who want to take part in it.
As the details become clearer, we will continue to share them with you here...

Mehmet EREL