Continuing its efforts to encourage citizens of all ages to do sports and to make Mersin a city known for sports, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality's support for sports continues to grow exponentially every day.
One of the world's largest and most challenging rally-raid races, which is started in a different city every year and is being held for the 14th time this year, the 'TransAnatolia International Rally Raid Races' started in Mersin with the support of the Metropolitan Municipality and Mersin Governorship. In the competition held with the participation of approximately 11 athletes from 100 countries, the athletes will start from Mersin and pass through a total of 15 provincial borders and finish their race in Van. In the competition, where all types of off-road vehicles can be used, the athletes will complete the 2-kilometer-long course and travel for 200 days.
Yorulmaz: “As a metropolitan municipality, our support for sports and athletes will always continue”
Kubilay Yorulmaz from the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Youth and Sports Services Department noted that the 14th TransAnatoli rally-raid races were held this year and said, “The race will start in Mersin and end in Van. As the Metropolitan Municipality, we are happy to support motor sports as well as other sports. Here, we hosted our national and international athletes and also had the opportunity to promote Mersin. We wish success to all our athletes. As the Metropolitan Municipality, our support for sports and athletes will always continue.”
Büyükpınar: “Every year we announce Turkey to the world with a different theme on a different route”
TransAnatolia General Coordinator Burak Büyükpınar stated that TransAnatolia is one of the few rally races in the world and said, “A 7-day race that we call a marathon rally, ranging from 2 to 3 kilometers. We organize a race where motorcycles, cars, trucks and all types of off-road vehicles can compete. This year, we are organizing the 14th one.” Emphasizing that competitors from many countries around the world participate in the event, Büyükpınar said, “We organize the race with a different track and theme every year. This year, we wanted to start TransAnatolia from Mersin. Mersin Governorship and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality gave us great support in this regard. We had the opportunity to introduce this beautiful city of ours to foreigners. Mersin is a beautiful port city. It is very advantageous for us. All of the foreign athletes were able to quickly bring all of their furnished vehicles from Europe to Mersin by ship. We gave the first start of the race here.”
Büyükpınar, who stated that a long and difficult process awaits the competitors for 7 days, said that the finish line will be in Van and said, “Our competitors are very excited. It is a very difficult and strategic race. The competitors must be both fast and not get lost. They will travel 350 kilometers a day on a motorcycle or car on the terrain. They will do this by racing against time. There are professional racers and factory teams. They announce this job to the world with great pleasure. Our aim is to announce the beauties of Turkey to the world with a different theme on a different route every year. Frankly, to introduce Turkey. I always say that there are very few people who go from Mersin to Van by road, but there has never been anyone who has gone on our path. We expect to meet in Van in 7 days from the mountains and hills.”
Athletes will try to complete a long and challenging course for 7 days.
Coming to Mersin from Samsun to compete, athlete Ahmet Askar expressed his feelings by saying, “I met TransAnatolia in 2017. Last year, the start was made in Samsun. We followed the competition there with great excitement. This year, I will compete in the rally stage in the B3 category as a competitor. I am very excited. This will be my first experience. This organization of TranAnatolia is amazing. I have been waiting for this day for a year. Now that day has come.”
Erhan Sertkaya, who participated in the competition from Antalya, said, “This year will be my 2nd race. I last competed in 2021. It is a very long and difficult stage. We will start in Mersin and finish in Van. A great adventure awaits us for 7 days. I can say that it is one of the most difficult races in the world. It is very good that such organizations exist in our country. We always want and support sports activities for the promotion of the country.”
