Official start in Sultanahmet Square
A festive ceremony in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square marked the official start of the Gumball 3000 rally, with million-dollar luxury cars lined up against the backdrop of the city’s historic peninsula.
Big names such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and Bugatti roared through the streets of Istanbul and around the historic peninsula before the convoy continued towards Edirne. First held in 1999, the rally is known not as a speed race but as a lifestyle celebration combining car culture, entertainment and international exchange. Over the past 25 years it has hosted a dazzling range of participants — from entrepreneurs and famous athletes to music and film stars, as well as social media influencers whose content reaches millions.
This year’s route starts in Istanbul and passes through Bucharest, Belgrade and Florence before finishing on the Spanish island of Ibiza. In Türkiye, 138 cars joined the convoy, with Edirne as the first stop. Twelve drivers displayed their cars in the square of the Selimiye Mosque — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — where locals and tourists gathered to watch the spectacle.
Among the Turkish participants was architect and car enthusiast Can Iyilik. Proud that Istanbul hosted such a high-profile event, he said: “This year the rally runs through 7–8 countries, starting in Istanbul and ending in Ibiza. We joined the convoy for the Türkiye leg, and as we were close to the border we also visited Edirne.” Stressing the scale of the event, he added: “In total, 138 cars will cover 3,000 kilometres. This is the 26th edition and the organisation is truly amazing. We set off from Sultanahmet and all of Istanbul was talking about it. It was a really enjoyable and unforgettable experience.”
