Catalan-Kurdish racecar driver to compete in 2022 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup

"I am very happy that we make a big effort to get the Kurdistan racing team back on the tracks."

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2022/03/08 21:49

Catalan-Kurdish Car Racer Racecar driver Isaac Tutumlu (Photo: Isaac Tutumlu/Twitter).

World Isaac Tutumlu Kurdistan Racing Team Lamborghini Kurdistan Motorsport GT World Challenge

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Spanish-Kurdish racecar driver Isaac Tutumlu will be competing in the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup by Amazon behind the wheel of a GSM Novamarine-run Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which he focused on other professional commitments such as representing football players, he will make his comeback to the GT3 scene with the Kurdistan Racing Team.

Racecar driver Isaac Tutumlu will participate at the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup behind the wheel of a GSM Novamarine-run Lamborghini Huracan GT3 (Photo: Isaac Tutumlu).

Tutumlu will fight for Silver class honors alongside Austrian driver Gerhard Tweraser during the 5-round season.

"I am very happy that we make a big effort to get the Kurdistan racing team back on the tracks, and honestly, I didn't expect we would be able to race in the GT world challenge, which is the most important worldwide GT championship as well with a big brand like Lamborghini," he said.

"So we will be racing showing the Kurdistan flag on TVs all around the world."

Tutumlu said he also would like to meet Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani this time.

"Without his support in the past, the Kurdistan Racing Team would not be possible," he said.

The five events will take place at top tier circuits in several European race tracks such as Brands Hatch (Apr. 30-May), Magny-Cours (May 13-15), Zandvoort (June 17-19), Misano (July 1-3), and Cheste (Sept. 16-18).

Tutumlu was born in the city of Barcelona. His father is a Kurd from a village near Ankara, Turkey, while his mother is a Catalan, born in Barcelona. His interest in racecar driving began at a young age with go-karting until he eventually pursued his dreams of becoming a pro.

Tutumlu, who was crowned Spanish GT Champion in 2013, has contested top events and championships such as the Daytona 24 hours, the Dubai 24 hours, the International GT Open, the Blancpain GT Series, the WTCC, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, or the Porsche Supercup.

He has won numerous championships such as the Formula Catalunya, the Kart Club Valles Championship, and the Campionat de Catalunya.

Between 2011 to 2014, Tutumlu's team was called the Barzani Racing Team until funding from the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) stopped due to the financial crisis in the Kurdistan Region and the war against the so-called Islamic State.

Since then, he drove as part of the Kurdistan Racing Team.

Tutumlu and his new team will carry out a first preseason testing at the French motorsport race track Paul Ricard today.