Last year in sweltering conditions in Bahrain, Salih Yoluç stood proudly on the top step of the podium having clinched the inaugural FIA GT Nations Cup for Team Turkey. It was a sensational victory for Salih and teammate Ayhancan Guven, and one the pairing is aiming to replicate this November at the Italian circuit of Vallelunga.
Salih continues his close relationship with TF Sport as the British-based team enter the newly renamed FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup for the first time with the now-familiar #1 Aston Martin Vantage GT3. While it will be a new experience for the team, Salih is well versed with this unique event.
The format remains the same as in 2018, with practice and qualifying followed by two 60-minute qualifying races that determine the grid for deciding hour-long contest. Last year with Ayhancan, Salih finished the first qualifying race in P2 and the second qualifier in P1.
The deciding race saw Salih start from the pole ahead of the other 17 National entries. He remained right in the battle before ultimately making history by winning the event for Team Turkey and RAM Racing.
For Salih, he will be competing in the event between rounds two and three of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Japan and China with TF Sport, making it a busy schedule heading towards the end of what has been a busy, and ultimately very fruitful year.
Salih Yoluç
“Winning last year was a very special feeling for me. I’ve won some big races now, but to do it for Team Turkey was just an amazing feeling, so to return with Ayhancan was an easy decision to take. We’re not sure yet what the competition will be like in terms of quality, but we showed well last year and with TF Sport we expect to be up there and challenging. To win it on successive years is a tough challenge, but we have a good chance with Team Turkey.”
Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder & CEO
“I am delighted to welcome back Team Turkey for this year’s FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup. In every sporting contest you want to see the previous winners return to defend their crown, while also setting a benchmark for the opposition. More broadly, I am pleased with the hard work and on-going developments we have seen ahead of this year’s FIA Motorsport Games. It promises to be a fantastic showcase of international talent both on and off the circuit, as well as a fitting spectacle to close the 2019 racing season.”
Tom Ferrier, TF Sport Director
“It’s an honour to be competing in the FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup with Salih and Ayhancan. We’re a British-based team with a very international flavour so it’s great to be competing as Team Turkey. For us, the opportunity to run the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in this series was too good an opportunity to miss. Our drive, as ever, is to give Salih the best package as possible so that he can make it back-to-back wins in Turkish colours.”