Turkish pilots excel at the Türkiye Drone Race in Istanbul

The 2024 Türkiye Drone Race, a leg of the FAI Drone Racing World Cup, concluded this weekend in Istanbul’s historic Yedikule Fortress. The event, organized by the International Air Sports Federation (FAI) and the Türkiye Air Sports Federation, showcased top talent from around the world in a unique blend of modern technology and ancient architecture.

Turkish pilot Nazim Tuzun claimed victory in the men’s category, outpacing German competitor Arvin Schroder who took second place. Fellow Turk Atakan Mercimek secured third, while China’s Youran Tian finished fourth.

The women’s category saw Serbian racer Natalia Astakhova take top honors, with Turkish pilots Dila Duru Beceren and Elif Beyza Cinar rounding out the podium in second and third places respectively. Unfavorable weather conditions led to the cancellation of the junior category races.

Ahmet Saim Yilmaz, President of the Türkiye Air Sports Federation, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s outcome. “We hosted 66 athletes, including 33-34 international competitors, in a venue with 600 years of history. It was a spectacular race, and the results were particularly gratifying for us,” Yilmaz stated.

He highlighted the significance of Türkiye’s performance, saying, “This is our first time winning first place in such a competition. Nazim Tuzun’s victory in the men’s category and Atakan Mercimek’s third-place finish make us incredibly proud.”

Yilmaz also acknowledged the influence of Selcuk Bayraktar, a prominent figure in Türkiye’s drone industry, noting that many athletes view him as a role model.

Looking to the future, Yilmaz expressed confidence in Türkiye’s standing in the sport. “We’re currently leading in Europe. Our main competitors now are China and South Korea,” he explained. “We’ll be assessing our position at the upcoming championship in China. Given China’s significant investment in this field, we aim to produce a world champion within the next three years.”

Men’s category winner Nazim Tuzun reflected on his victory: “Winning here is deeply meaningful for me. This is my third year participating, having competed in 2022 and 2023. As the first FAI race held in Türkiye, this success holds special significance.”