(Motorsport) Cem Bolukbasi, a Turkish esports player will compete in the Formula 2 this season with Charouz Racing System, thereby becoming the first gamer to transition from F1 Esports to Formula 1’s feeder series. Bolukbasi made his debut in F1 Esports in 2017 and has spent the last few years racing in single seater championships. The 23 year old will feature in F2 this season and is already setting his sights on his ultimate goal of becoming a Formula 1 racer one day.

"If I was never in F1 Esports, I would never have had the chance to get into a real car. I would not be where I am now," said Bolukbasi. I think it's also very important to be the first gamer to do this, because it can give people hope. If people see that one person can do it, they will believe they can do it as well. If I can go from F1 Esports to Formula 2, I think anyone can." Bolukbasi raced in the F3 Asian Championship last year, scoring 13 out of a possible 15 points and also won his debut EuroFormula Open race. The 23 year old tested a Formula 2 car at the Yas Marina Circuit after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season.

Bolukbasi said “I was in Abu Dhabi in 2017 for F1 Esports as an Esports driver. To return after four years testing an F2 car was pretty insane for me, realising everything. I watched the F1 finale, testing, and then a day later I was driving the F2 car. I was like a kid living a dream over those five or six days." The Turk is backed by several big Turkish companies and agencies as well as Turkey's Motor Sports Federation (TOSFED). Jason Tahincioglu, son of former TOSFED president Mumtaz was the last Turkish driver to compete in Formula 2 in 2006 and 2007 but failed to score a single point in GP2.

The 2022 Formula 2 calendar is set to be the biggest one to date with a 14 round calendar, all of which will be held on F1 race weekends. Bolukbasi paid tribute to his F1 Esports experience in helping him become the first graduate from the virtual world into Formula 2. He said “I was in Abu Dhabi in 2017 for F1 Esports as an Esports driver. To return after four years testing an F2 car was pretty insane for me, realising everything. I watched the F1 finale, testing, and then a day later I was driving the F2 car. I was like a kid living a dream over those five or six days.”  Bolukbasi will return to the F2 cockpit when testing resumes in Bahrain from March 2nd to 4th with the season commencing two weeks later at the same venue.

Also read: Four things fans should be excited about for the 2022 Formula 1 season