51 Years on the Rally Stages

As part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Republic, Mithat Diker, who is now in his 51st year on the stages, started the 100th Year Rally held by the Turkish Motorsport Federation in Bolu on 29 October. Staged amid Bolu's breathtaking natural scenery, the much-talked-about 100th Year Rally saw 63 cars and 126 competitors battle it out. Diker managed to reach the finish of this rally, which holds great importance for the driver. On the opening day, Diker's car developed an alternator fault, and the driver struggled through two stages before failing to reach the finish of the third and then continued the following day under Super Rally.Also a successful businessperson alongside a motorsport career, Diker completed the rally in fourth place in Category 2 of the Erkan Bodur Rally Cup classification, driving a Fiat Palio in the colours of the driver's own company, Ege Asal Metal. At the ceremony held in front of the Bolu Governorate on the evening of Sunday 29 October, the winners received their awards from Bolu Governor Erkan Kılıç and members of the protocol. In recognition of spending 51 years of the Republic's 100 as an active competitor, and of the driver's material and moral contribution to motorsport, TOSFED Secretary General Serhan Acar presented Mithat Diker with a plaque.