23-year-old Bölükbas? proves that sometimes, in order to achieve your goal, you have to go a roundabout way. Turek has always dreamed of being a professional racing driver. However, he started his career not on real tracks, but on virtual ones.
Beginning as an esports athlete
Cem Bölükbas? he was interested in motorsport from an early age. His racing passion was instilled in him by his father, who took him to the motocross track for the first time. So young Cem started to train, and at the age of 6 he became the Turkish champion in motocross racing.
His childhood achievements, however, were not translated into his teenage years – he was average in karting. So Turek turned his gaze towards esports. In 2017, he joined the prestigious organization – G2 Esports – which is one of the largest esports brands of this type in the world. Bölükbas? he was a driver in a newly created division that competed in simracing.
Later he started competing in the Formula 1 Esports Series, the virtual version of F1. The Turk rode in the competition as a Toro Rosso driver. In 2017, it finished the season in 5th place. A year later, things were worse for him – he took part in only 4 out of 10 races and finally finished 12th. In 2019, another regression – only 21st place with 4 points at the end of the season.
Jump into real cars
The breakthrough for Cema came in 2020, when the driver won the Formula Renault Esports Series. In the meantime, it also developed in other, not virtual, fields. He took part in, inter alia, in the GT4 European Series as well as in the Formula Renault Eurocup.
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His career really took off in 2021. First he became a BlackArts Racing driver in the F3 Asian Championship. A few months later he joined Van Amersfoort Racing, with which he participated in the 2021 Euroformula Open Championship. This competition gave him the opportunity to go on tracks such as the Hungarian Hungaroring or the Italian Monza.
Good performances at the above-mentioned competitions made Formula 2 interested in Bölükbas? M. In October 2021, the driver was invited to the tests. On January 12, 2022, it was announced that the 23-year-old Turek had become the driver of the Charouz Racing System. His partner is not yet known. In the previous season, the Czech team finished in tenth, penultimate place in the constructors’ standings. “Cem is the first driver to advance from F1 Esports to Formula 2,” we read on Formula 1’s social media.
The tenth Formula 2 stable does not sound like a dream place for every driver in the world, but it must be admitted that Bölükbas’ career is impressive. Less than 5 years ago, Turek signed a contract with the G2 esports organization to start his career on virtual tracks. His stubbornness, however, ultimately helped him make his dream come true and jump to the high level that undoubtedly prevails in the back of Formula 1.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
