Classic Cars Celebrate Republic Day Spirit
Cengiz Kabatepe and Çiğdem Kabatepe won the Cumhuriyet Rally, the final round of the 2026 Turkish Classic Car Championship, in a 1972 Anadol A1.
At the Cumhuriyet Rally, organised by the Classic Car Club and the final round of the 2026 Turkish Classic Car Championship, 47 classic cars built between 1954 and 1989 met Istanbul's unrivalled scenery and the colours of autumn.
Held on 23-24 October, the event saw the classic cars tackle stages in Sarıyer Demirciköy on the first day and in the Çatalca area on the second, travelling through Istanbul's historic fabric, natural beauty and autumn colours and carrying the Republic Day spirit to the city's streets.
The two-day Cumhuriyet Rally concluded with a gala evening at the Swissotel on Saturday 24 October. Cengiz Kabatepe-Çiğdem Kabatepe won the rally in a 1972 Anadol A1, while Ali Fuad Akömer-Mert Büyük finished second in a 1973 Anadol STC-16 and Şenol Evren-Gezin Evren took third in a 1969 Mercedes 280 SL Pagoda.
