Bolukbasi Lands LMP2 Drive with DKR Engineering

Single-seater racer Cem Bolukbasi will switch to the European Le Mans Series this year with the DKR Engineering LMP2 outfit.

The Turkish driver will partner the already-announced Tom van Rompuy aboard DKR’s No. 3 Oreca 07 Gibson, with one more driver in the Pro/Am lineup still to be confirmed.

Bolukbasi makes the move to ELMS from Super Formula, where he raced last year with TGM Grand Prix, but initial hopes of staying in the Japanese category faded owing to difficulties raising sponsorship in time for last December’s post-season test.

While he has focused largely on single-seaters in recent years, having also raced in Formula 2, Bolukbasi is no stranger to sportscar racing or indeed the ELMS, as he made a single outing for Eurointernational’s LMP3 squad in 2021 at the Red Bull Ring.

Prior to that, the former esports star also contested a full season in the GT4 European Series with Borusan Otomotiv in 2020, finishing second in the Pro/Am championship.

“Delighted to announce I’ll be racing in [ELMS] with [DKR Engineering] in the 2024 season,” Bolukbasi wrote on his social media. “Ready to give my absolute best to help succeed together with the team.

“I’d like to thank DKR and Kendy [Janclaes, team owner] for their trust in me and I look forward to a great season with them.”

Van Rompuy was partnered by Sebastian Alvarez and Nathanael Berthon at DKR for the 2023 ELMS season. The trio finished ninth in the LMP2 Pro/Am standings with a best finish of fifth in the Barcelona season opener.

The 2024 ELMS begins with the 4 Hours of Barcelona on April 14.