Cem Bolukbasi, from Sim Racing to Formula 2
Cem Bolukbasi, a 23-year-old Turkish driver, has officially signed with the Charouz Racing Team for the 2022 Formula 2 season.
Many Sim racers have dreamt of it, and Cem Bolukbasi has made it happen! Former Esports champion, the Turk is transitioning from the virtual to the real world. He becomes the first driver to make the leap from simulation to Formula 2. He will also be the first representative of his country to compete in the stepping stone to Formula 1.
If he wins his first title on two wheels (Turkish motocross championship at the age of six) he continues his young career on four wheels with karting and later virtual racing.
Between 2017 and 2019, he competed for Toro Rosso in the F1 Esports Series. In his first season, he achieved a fifth place in the overall standings with 35 points and a race victory. He quickly moved on to a real steering wheel by joining the European GT4 championship, in the Pro-Am category, and even finishing second in 2020.
During the year 2021, he participates in two single-seater championships; the Asian F3 championship where he finishes 9th overall, but especially the Euroformula Open Championship for the Van Amersfoort Racing team, with which he secures two victories, including one in his first participation (Hungary), and finishes 5th in the series standings.
ILK FORMULA WIN!!!!
Hayallerimi gerceklestirmeme yardimci olan herkese cok tesekkur ederim! pic.twitter.com/1JTLclRa37— Cem Bolukbasi (@cembolukbasi) July 10, 2021
If his first laps behind the wheel of an F2 were done within the Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing, it is finally with Charouz Racing Team that the Turkish driver will make his debut in Formula 2.
An unusual journey that will undoubtedly make sim racers dream.
« If I hadn’t taken part in the F1 Esports, I would never have had the chance to drive a real single-seater » said Cem Bolukbasi. « I also believe that being the first player to do this is very important because it can give hope to others. If people see that one person can do it, they will believe in their own chances of doing it too. If I can move from F1 Esports to FIA Formula 2, I think anyone can do it. »
The Turkish driver will have a lot to do, as he is facing a long season ahead, with no less than 14 meetings and 28 races next year!
“I am also looking forward to starting to work with the team, the upcoming season is going to be very long and demanding, and establishing the best possible relationship with all the guys is going to be crucial for the final result.”
