Diker-Oral Ready for TransAnatolia

The International TransAnatolia Rally Raid will be held for the 16th time this year, running from 29 August to 5 September 2026. İzmir Automobile Sports Club president and experienced rally driver Mithat Diker will once again compete in the car category alongside Erdal Oral, the experienced co-driver he has raced with for many years.

The great challenge of around 2,300 kilometres from Istanbul to Ankara will begin with the start in Istanbul on 29 August. TransAnatolia 2026 will test competitors' physical endurance, technical skill, navigation ability and team harmony over a route of approximately 2,300 kilometres, stretching from the forested, mountainous and variable terrain of the Black Sea region to the wide plains of Central Anatolia.

Departing from Istanbul, the competitors will pass through stages around Bolu, Zonguldak, Mount Ilgaz, Amasya, Tokat, Cappadocia and Lake Tuz, with the big challenge ending on the finish podium in Ankara on 5 September.

Speed alone will not be enough at TransAnatolia. Changing surface conditions, long stages, limited service times, the car's mechanical durability and accurate navigation will all play an important part in shaping the overall classification. Communication between driver and co-driver, along with strategic decisions, will also have a direct bearing on the result.