Turkish Grand Prix organisers have appealed the US$5 million fine handed to them for contravening podium protocol following last month’s race, ITV-F1.com has learned.

Event officials were hauled before the FIA World Motor Sport Council last Tuesday to explain why Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was introduced to millions of TV viewers as the ‘President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ – a de facto breakaway state – during the prize-giving ceremony.

The WMSC rebuked the race officials for compromising Formula 1’s political neutrality and imposed the heaviest fine in motorsport history – though it stopped short of striking Turkey off the Formula 1 calendar.

The initial indications were that the penalty would not be challenged, but after a series of meetings over the last week, the Turkish sporting authority (TOSFED) and race organisers MSO lodged an appeal with the FIA just before Tuesday’s deadline.

MSO general manager Baran Asena told ITV-F1.com that the organisers accepted the reasons for a fine being imposed but objected to its severity.

Last week circuit officials claimed that “the Formula 1 races at the Istanbul Park will continue uninterrupted” but Asena admitted they would face a hard time raising $5 million in the specified 30-day period.

“At first we were not planning to appeal,” said Asena, “but the financial situation [is difficult] and everyone has said the fine is very high.

“We feel we have acted in a professional fashion and we did not have any political agenda.”

Asena said organisers had not yet been notified of a date for the appeal hearing.

Matt