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Every one of us has booted into a gaming console, opened our favorite racing simulator and thought that our attempts, despite assistance from every perceivable driving aid offered, were capable of doing the real thing. Well there is hope for us all as Turkish driver Cem Bölükbasi becomes the first Esport competitor to make the transition into the real thing.
The former F1 Esport contender will join Charouz Racing System in his maiden season after the team announced the 23 year old driver as the first recruit of the new campaign. This news comes a mere month after Bölükbasi first experienced F2 machinery at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, this time with Van Amersfoort Racing.
Don’t be fooled, however, Bölükbasi is no stereotypical gamer living in his parents basement and also no stranger to real world racing. With experience on two wheels as well as four, taking the top step of the podium in the Turkish motocross championship when he was six years old. 2020 saw him as runner up in the GT4 European Series competing with a BMW M4 GT4.
The following year saw him transition into single seater racing by participating in the 2021 Asian Formula 3 Championship finishing 9th overall after a 15-race season. He also competed in the 2021 Euroformula Open, 2021 European Le Mans Series LMP3 class, 2021 GT4 European Series – Pro-Am and the 2021 GT4 European Series – Silver Cup with moderate success, however it was here that he amassed meritorious real-world experience.
With the grueling 14-round season demanding full attention, Charouz Team Owner Antonín Charouz stated that Bölükbasi has already shown that he has the ability to learn quickly and get good results in the most competitive and difficult Formula 1-feeder category.
