TransAnatolia Rally Raid started from Mersin.

The TransAnatolia Rally Raid, which offers a route starting from the south of Turkey and extending to the east, was launched in Mersin. This year, the organization is being held for the 14th time and will conclude in Van on September 7th.

Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan stated at the start ceremony held in Özgecan Aslan Peace Square that they value every branch of sports. Pehlivan emphasized the importance of sports being embraced, accepted, and existing as a lifestyle, especially among young people and children, stating, “This race has many dimensions. Sports is the starting point. Alongside this, the promotion of the routes it passes, its contribution to the economy, and its contribution to tourism are aspects that reflect across all fields. The race starting here today will pass through the borders of 15 provinces and will conclude in Van on September 7th. Rally and Raid are indeed technical concepts; one relates to time, while the other is based on tracking navigational projections. Of course, there will be winners in this competition. But the real winners will be all participants, the guests accompanying them, and the provinces along the route, as well as our country, Turkey. We know that such races will significantly contribute to the promotion of the routes they traverse. Together with sports, nature and adventure come together in one pot, and will continue to do so. Many intentions, many purposes, and many beneficial results are unified in a race, in a competition,” he remarked.

“Be our sports ambassador, be our culture ambassador, be our heart ambassador”

Stressing that Mersin is one of the most beautiful and precious cities in Turkey, Pehlivan said, “I believe that the nearly 100 competitors who have come here, along with over 600 guests, have had a good time. During their stay here, they have had the opportunity to get to know our province. On one side, we have the turquoise of the Mediterranean behind us, and on the other side, the green of the Taurus Mountains, blending history, nature, culture, and many values; a city that continues its path harmoniously across many sectors, from industry to agriculture, from trade to tourism, and with each passing day, raising its standards of development. In this sense, we believe that all our guests have had the opportunity to get to know our province. And our only request from them is this: ‘Please be our sports ambassadors, our culture ambassadors, our heart ambassadors, and take our greetings, good wishes, and love to the routes you travel. Whenever you have the chance, please come back and visit us again. Be our guests,'” he said.

After the speeches of TransAnatolia General Coordinator Burak Büyükpınar and TransAnatolia Sports Director Orhan Çelen, the start of TransAnatolia Rally Raid, the first and only in Turkey and one of the largest and most challenging races in the world, was given with the permission of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the support of the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation.

The competition starting in Mersin will end in Van

The TransAnatolia Rally Raid, which manages to combine nature, adventure, and sports in a single race, will pass through Karaman, Konya, Niğde, Adana, Kayseri, Yozgat, Sivas, Erzincan, Tunceli, Elazığ, Bingöl, Muş, and Bitlis, finishing in Van on September 7th. To date, over 1,000 competitors from 27 different countries have been welcomed in Turkey’s unique geography, with hundreds of competitors from 10 countries participating in the TransAnatolia Rally Raid.
The 2,200-kilometer race is held in two separate categories: rally and raid for motorcycles, 4×4 cars, SSV, quads, and trucks. In the rally, competitors race against the clock, while in the raid category, participants compete using navigation.