THE MEETING POINT OF THE AUTOMOBILE WORLD

 “Istanbul Concours d’Elegance 2014”

The second Istanbul Concours d’Elegance, the elegance and beauty pageant for automobiles due to take place on June 7 – 8, 2014 was announced at a press conference at the Haliç Congress Center.
Uğur Işık, Işıklar Holding Deputy Chairman and Organization Committee President, Aydın Harezi, Classic Automobile Club President, along with jury members Saydun Gökşin, Karaca Taşkent, also a member of last year’s honor committee, and Bülent Arı were present at the press conference.

Originality counts!
With several participants from Turkey and the world planning to take part in the Concours, some seventy automobiles are expected to be shown during the event. Automobiles from Turkey and the world will undergo elimination by a panel of local and international judges and only then will be invited to enter the competition. The models found most loyal to their original forms will take their place at the top.
“Istanbul Concours d’Elegance, which we are planning to turn into an annual event, was received with great interest in 2013, and we are expecting similar levels of interest this year too. We have already received several applications since we announced the event. After last year’s event held at the Küçüksu Pavilion, we will now be at the Haliç Congress Center, one of the most prestigious venues in Istanbul. Prominent names from the business and social circles, as well as the world of classic automobiles will be attending this year’s event, making Istanbul once again one of the most important international meeting points for automobile enthusiasts. We are proud to be organizing Istanbul Concours d’Elegance and we are working hard to prepare for the event,” said Organization Committee President Uğur Işık.
Also speaking at the press conference Classic Automobile Club President Aydın Harezi added, “We are very happy to be a part of such a great event that will bring classic automobile enthusiasts together and to support Turkey’s promotion. We are expecting all of our members to attend the event.”

Mustang’s 50th Anniversary Special – “50 Years with Mustang”
Scoring will be based on appearance, interior design, originality and history of the automobiles. The trophy categories are designated as “Antiques” for 1945 and earlier makes, “Classics” for 1946 – 1960 makes, “Collectables” for 1961 – 1970 makes, “Exotics” for 1971 and newer makes, as well as a “Featured Brand” category where a different manufacturer will be featured each year. 
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Mustang has been selected as the “Featured Brand” for 2014 Istanbul Concours d’Elegance.

Great interest from business and social circles
About 100 automobiles in various makes and models are expected to apply for the competition at the Haliç Congress Center on June 7 – 8, 2014. A number of Turkish collectors will be at the Istanbul Concours d’Elegance, which was attended last year by some of the leading figures from the business world and the society, like Rahmi Koç, Rıza Işık, Uğur Işık, Cengiz Artam, Aydın Harezi, Hıncal Uluç, Şeyda -Ünhan Atadeniz, Figen - Serdar Özer, Hasan Yurdakul, Neslihan-Başar Kozanoğlu, Kahraman Sadikoglu, Vural Ak, Selim Hamamcioglu, and Nur Taskent.

Işıklar Holding continues to support Turkey’s promotion in the world
Işıklar Holding places great importance in Turkey’s promotion in the world as part of the group’s social responsibility projects, and now adds another sponsorship to these activities. A statement issued by the group about the main sponsorship of Istanbul Concours d’Elegance 2014 said, “We are striving to promote Turkey internationally as a modern and developed country. We accomplished this purpose by organizing and supporting offshore races for 10 years. And now we continue to do the same with Concours d’Elegance, one of the most prestigious events in the world.”

About Concours d’Elegance:
The history of Concours d’Elegance events dates back to 17th century French aristocracy when horse-drawn carriages were shown. By the 1920s, carriages became horseless and the gatherings became a competition among automobile owners to be judged on the appearance of their automobiles. As the events evolved from meeting places where the owners showed the designs and the power of their cars into competitions held after auto shows, the Concours events became a passion for classic automobile enthusiasts. The most significant feature of the Concours that sets them apart from other automobile pageants is that the entrants are required to remain loyal to their original forms. 

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is one of the most significant of all events celebrating classic automobiles, and also a traditional event held for the first time as early as 1929. Another popular Concours, first held in 1950, is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, often said to be the world’s premier celebration of the automobile organized in the USA. Istanbul Concours d’Elegance, first held last year in Turkey with great success is starting to make a name for itself as one of the notable Concours events.