Transanatolia Starts from Izmir

Now in its eighth edition, Transanatolia Rally Raid takes in many of Turkey's historic regions that have been all but forgotten, allowing participants to discover history, culture and nature as they race, while offering Turkish and international drivers a closely fought contest.
Supported this year by TÜRSAB, İzfaş, Mitsubishi, BF Goodrich, Sport Point Extreme (SPX), KTM, Anlas, MüzeKart and MuseumPass, Transanatolia will start from Gündoğdu Square on Saturday 4 August 2018 and cover 2850 km before finishing at the Ephesus Ancient Site on Saturday 11 August 2018.
Beginning with a ceremonial start at Izmir's Gündoğdu Square, the eighth Transanatolia Rally Raid will head towards the Simav Gölcük Plateau in Kütahya, then pass through the Phrygian Valley and the ancient cities of Gerdekkaya, Pessinos and Gordion before reaching Haymana. Continuing across Lake Tuz, the rally raid goes on to Güzelyurt Yüksek Church and the Soğanlı Valley, then crosses the Aladağlar and Bolkar Mountains, regarded as Turkey's Alps, before turning towards Konya and Karaman and heading south over Lake Beyşehir. After the Köprülü Canyon, Lake Salda and Pamukkale, the crews will take the chequered flag at the Ephesus Ancient Site, completing the 2850 km route.
Vehicles in the motorcycle, 4×4 car, ATV and truck categories will take part in the rally raid, with competitors this year coming from Britain, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Many Turkish and international journalists will follow the event closely as it plays host to a battle between drivers, closely watched by the motorsport world, over demanding terrain made up of dirt, mud and water crossings.