Cem Bölükbasi begins his Formula 1 dream career with Charouz Racing System in the 2022 Formula 2 Championship.
With a background in eSports, and driving for Van Amersfoort in the 2021 Euroformula Open Championship the Turkish racer is entering the feeder series in a revolutionary way.
He was the winner of the 2020 Formula Renault Esport Series, racing for the Formula 1 Toro Rosso/Alpha Tauri team. Having a natural talent he is making the transition into real racing.
“I’m really, really happy to join Charouz Racing System for the FIA Formula 2 season. I worked so hard to get an opportunity like this and first of all, I want to thank Charouz for putting their trust in me, I’ll do my very best to honour it.”
Starting his motorsport career by winning the Turkish Motocross Championship when he was just six years old, Bölükbasi made the switch to karts in 2007.
In 2019 the Turk raced in the Formula Renault Eurocup series, and in 2019, 2020 and 2021, he competed in the GT4 European Series behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT4, winning two Pro-Am Cups in 2020 and two AM class wins in 2021. He’s also earned his stripes in the European Le Mans Series LMP3 class with a Ligier JS P320.
Racing in the 2021 F3 Asian Championship, Bölükbasi finished in a respectable ninth place with 61 points.
Notably last year, Cem also had two wins, eight podiums and a pole position in the Euroformula Open Championship, ending his campaign in fifth place with 217 points.
At the end of last year’s Formula 2 season, Bölükbasi tested for the new to F2 Van Amersfoort team at the Yas Marina Circuit. And, is looking forward to his golden opportunity with Charouz.
“I obviously can’t wait to get in the car for the testing sessions. It’s as close as you can get to a Formula 1 car and I’m fully determined to give my 100% to learn how to master it and prove my potential as a driver. I also can’t wait to start working with the team.”
It isn’t totally unheard of for a driver to bypass Formula 4 and Formula 3, however, to have a predominant career in eSports, then making the switch into real racing is quite the headline.
Bölükbasi will do his talking on the track and prove that it is possible for any sim racers with the talent and aspiring ambitions, to become a Formula driver.
“The season ahead is gonna be very long and demanding and establishing the best possible relationship with all the guys is going to be crucial for the final outcome.”
We here at insideF2 are very much looking forward to seeing what Bölükbasi and the Charouz team can achieve.
Image Credit: Formula Motorsport limited
