Bölükbasi joins Charouz Racing for maiden F2 campaign

Cem Bölükbasi will make his Formula 2 debut in 2022, with Charouz Racing System announcing the Turkish driver as their first recruit of the new campaign.

Bölükbasi first tasted F2 machinery at the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi with Van Amersfoort Racing, making the step up from Euroformula Open.

Joining 10 races into the season, the 23-year-old won his first race in Euroformula at Hungary, before going on to take a further seven podiums, including a second win, to finish fifth overall.

Bölükbasi also ran in the 2021 Asian Formula 3 Championship, ending the 15-race season in ninth.

As well as his single-seater experience, Bölükbasi has previously competed in the GT4 European Series, finishing second in 2020.

“I’m really, really happy to join Charouz Racing System for the FIA Formula 2 2022 season,” said Bölükbasi. “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.

“I obviously can’t wait to get in the car for the testing sessions, after my first taste of an old GP2 car later last year. It’s as close as you can get to a Formula 1 car and I’m fully determined to give my 110% to learn how to master it and prove my potential as a driver.

“I also can’t wait to start working with the team, 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.”

Bölükbasi arrives with experience on two wheels as well as four, winning the Turkish motocross championship when he was six years old, before switching to karting in 2007.

Charouz Team Owner Antonín Charouz added: “We’re more than delighted to welcome a brilliant driver like Cem in our Formula 2 team. It will be a challenging and exciting new experience for him, but he has already shown that he has the numbers to learn quickly and get some good results in some of the most competitive and difficult Formula 1-feeder categories.

“It’s going to be a long and tough season with 14 rounds, and that could be something he can take advantage of. On our side, we’ll obviously do everything we can to provide him with the best car and guide him in his learning path.”