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Turkish superstar Cem Bolukbasi will race in the Asian Formula 3 Championship in 2021, it was announced this week.
Bolukbasi, one of the founding fathers of the F1 Esports Series, has been rising steadily through the ranks of car racing for several years now, often in tandem with his virtual commitments. His venture into Asian Formula 3 will put him on the highest platform yet, and amongst some serious talent.
Bolukbasi will race for BlackArts Racing Team in the championship that will run through late January and February in Asia. Five rounds and 15 races, spread across four weekends, will test the cohort of drivers to the limit in races held at Dubai Autodrome, and Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The field is awash with famous names and up-and coming racers. Guanyu Zhou – full time Formula 2 ace and winner of the first every Virtual Grand Prix in 2020 – will surely be one of the star attractions. India’s Jehan Daruvala, who took the final win of the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship in Bahrain, will also compete, as well as Ferrari Driver Academy star Dino Beganovic.
“I am one step closer to realizing my dreams,” said Bolukbasi in a recent tweet.
“I am very happy, I will continue to achieve world firsts in my story from virtual to real tracks. I will compete in the Formula 3 Asian Championship full season. Thanks to everyone who believed and trusted me”
We’ve seen plenty of our Esports alumni take on-track racing in their stride, with people like Igor Fraga, Jarno Opmeer, Brendon Leigh and plenty of others all toughing it out on-track. But none have been quite so prolific as Bolukbasi, who among other ventures has raced to great success in the European GT4 series, and plied his trade in Formula Renault.
Having been a part of the F1 Esports Series since the very beginning in 2017, it’s heartening to see Cem Bolukbasi on the world stage once again. The high point of his involvement with the series was doubtless his stunning win around Spa during the Grand Final of 2017, heled at Yas Marina Circuit. Incredible, then, that he will be racing on-track at that very location in the coming weeks!
The 2021 Asian Formula 3 Championship gets under way on Friday, January 29, just before the return of the Virtual Grand Prix. The event will be live streaming here.
