Turkey ordered to FIA probe

TURKISH authorities at the heart of the controversy surrounding last Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul have been summoned to a meeting by motor sport’s world governing body to explain their actions.

“The National Sporting Authority of Turkey (TOSFED) and the Organisers of the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix (MSO) have been called to appear before a specially convened meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 19, 2006, to hear charges that they have acted in breach of the FIA Statutes, the International Sporting Code and the 2006 Formula One Sporting Regulations,” said a press release issued by the F?d?ration Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) yesterday.
The controversy was sparked when Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat made an unexpected appearance at the podium ceremony, presenting the winner’s trophy to Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. He was introduced to millions of viewers around the world as the “President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” in a television caption.

The incident sparked outrage from the government who filed a formal complaint with the FIA.

The inclusion of the Grand Prix on next year’s calendar has been thrown into doubt as a result of the fracas.

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