Wikipedia

Salih Yoluç

Ahmet Salih Yoluç[2] (born 22 August 1985, Istanbul)[1] is a Turkish racing driver.[3] As a bronze-ranked competitor, Yoluç has taken notable accolades in sportscar racing, including the 2020 LMGTE Am class victory at Le Mans, the Pro-Am title in the 2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, as well as the 2022 European Le Mans Series and 2023 Asian Le Mans Series championships in the LMP2 category.[4][5][6]

Salih Yoluç
Yoluç in 2018
NationalityTurkey Turkish
Born (1985-08-22) 22 August 1985 (age 39)[1]
Istanbul, (Turkey)
European Le Mans Series career
Debut season2015
Current teamRacing Team Turkey
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number34
Starts19
Wins7
Podiums14
Poles4
Fastest laps1
Best finish1st in 2022
Previous series
2020
2019
2018
2015		24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Spa
FIA GT Nations Cup
Dubai 24 Hours
Championship titles
2023
2022
2019		Asian Le Mans Series
European Le Mans Series
Blancpain Endurance Cup
Salih Yoluç turns in to Village corner in the number 90 TF Sport-entered Aston Martin Vantage GTE, during the 2018 6 Hours of Silverstone race.

Early GT career

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Yoluç started his racing career in 2015 with Optimum Motorsport in the British GT Championship. Despite two driving standards-related disqualifications in that championship, the Turkish driver was able to taste success in his maiden season, winning the Dubai 24 Hour race.[7]

At the end of 2015, he made a move to what would become his long-term team, TF Sport, and competed in the GT3 Le Mans Cup. There, Yoluç and Euan Hankey finished second in the drivers' standings with two victories, though they would win the teams' title.[8] He and Hankey also drove in International GT Open during the same year, winning two races on their way to sixth place overall.[9]

For the 2017 season, Yoluç moved into the LMGTE class of the European Le Mans Series alongside Hankey and Aston Martin factory driver Nicki Thiim.[10][11] The trio fought for the title throughout the year, winning the season opener at Silverstone and taking podiums in five races, though they missed out to JMW Motorsport by merely two points. That year, Yoluç also raced in the Pro-Am class of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.[12] Competing in the final three races, Yoluç would help teammates Jonathan Adam and Ahmad Al Harthy to two podium finishes, including second in class at the 24 Hours of Spa, which earned them the Pro-Am title. In addition, Yoluç became the first ever Turkish driver to compete in 24 Hours of Le Mans.[13] He finished seventh in class.

Yoluç switched to the FIA World Endurance Championship for its "Super Season", partnering Charlie Eastwood on a full-time basis.[14] Despite a late retirement at Le Mans, the team performed well, scoring four podiums to end the season in third. In 2019, Yoluç and Eastwood also raced in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, winning the Pro-Am Cup title after triumphing during the 24 Hours of Spa.[15]

During the second half of 2019, the Turkish-Irish pair would join Jonathan Adam in the WEC with TF Sport. During the season held over two years, the trio won the LMGTE Am category at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans and took the runner-up spot in the championship with three further wins.[16][17]

Prototype career & ranking upgrade

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Yoluç switched to prototypes in 2021, racing an Oreca 07 in the LMP2 class of the ELMS with the TF Sport-offshoot Racing Team Turkey.[18][19] Alongside Eastwood and Harry Tincknell, the Turkish driver was able to celebrate a lone victory at Le Castellet, though they would end up fourth in the LMP2 Pro-Am standings after a crash in practice prevented them from taking part in the final round.[20][21] Yoluç and Eastwood returned with RTT for the 2022 season, this time teaming up with Jack Aitken.[22] The outfit was dominant in the Pro-Am class, winning four races on their way to the title.[23][24]

Ahead of the main 2023 campaign, Yoluç and Eastwood, who would be going into their sixth year as teammates, drove alongside Ayhancan Güven in the Asian Le Mans Series with DKR Engineering.[25] With a win in Abu Dhabi and three further podiums, the trio took the LMP2 title.[26][27][28] For their European season in the ELMS, Yoluç and Eastwood were joined by Louis Delétraz, who immediately helped them towards the overall race victory at Barcelona.[29][30] Another class win in France followed, but issues at Aragón and a spin in the first Algarve event from Yoluç demoted the lineup to third in class.[31][32][33][34] At Le Mans, Yoluç retired during the evening, having hit the Prema of Filip Ugran.[35]

During the winter, Yoluç and Eastwood took part in AsLMS alongside Michael Dinan, where the Turkish driver scored two pole positions but only ended up seventh in the teams' standings, before he was upgraded to an FIA silver-ranked competitor ahead of the 2024 season.[36][37] As that meant that he could no longer compete in the ELMS's Pro-Am class, Yoluç moved into the Gold Cup category of the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup with Eastwood, as well as partaking in several events of the GTD category of the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Lone Star Racing.[38][39]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2015 British GT Championship - GT3 Von Ryan Racing 4 0 0 0 0 4 23rd
Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Am TF Sport 1 0 0 0 0 0 37th
International GT Open - Am 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
European Le Mans Series - GTC 1 0 0 0 0 0 8th
24H Series - SP3 Optimum Motorsport
2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Black Falcon 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain In2 Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 28th
International GT Open - Pro Am TF Sport 12 2 0 0 3 37 6th
GT3 Le Mans Cup 6 2 0 0 5 107 2nd[40]
2017 Porsche GT3 Cup Middle East Lechner Racing 10 0 0 0 0 90 13th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Oman Racing with TF Sport 5 0 0 0 0 7 26th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
European Le Mans Series - GTE TF Sport 6 1 0 0 5 102 2nd
2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Ram Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
FIA Nations Cup Team Turkey 3 2 1 0 3 N/A 1st
2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship - GTE Am TF Sport 8 0 0 0 4 99 3rd
Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 United Autosports 4 0 0 0 1 33 8th
2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Pro-Am Oman Racing with TF Sport 5 1 3 0 5 122 1st
FIA Motorsport Games GT Cup Team Turkey 3 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th
2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship - GTE Am TF Sport 8 4 2 0 5 154 2nd
2020 International GT Open TF Sport 12 3 0 0 8 112 2nd
2021 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Pro Am Racing Team Turkey 5 1 0 0 3 70 4th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 Rick Ware Racing Eurasia 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship Pinnacle Motorsport 15 0 0 0 0 0 36th
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Pro/Am Racing Team Turkey 6 4 1 0 5 131 1st
2023 Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 DKR Engineering 4 1 0 0 4 76 1st
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Pro/Am Racing Team Turkey 6 2 4 1 3 94 3rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 Tower Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 260 28th
2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 TF Sport 5 0 2 0 0 42 8th
2024 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Racing Team Turkey 4 0 0 1 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Gold Cup 4 0 0 0 1 32* 4th*
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Lone Star Racing 2 0 0 0 0 * *

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2017   TF Sport   Euan Hankey
  Rob Bell 		Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTE
Am 		329 35th 7th
2018   TF Sport   Euan Hankey
  Charlie Eastwood 		Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTE
Am 		304 DNF DNF
2019   TF Sport   Euan Hankey
  Charlie Eastwood 		Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTE
Am 		327 42nd 11th
2020   TF Sport   Jonathan Adam
  Charlie Eastwood 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GTE
Am 		339 24th 1st
2023   Racing Team Turkey   Tom Gamble
  Dries Vanthoor 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 87 DNF DNF
LMP2 Pro-Am
2024   JMW Motorsport   Giacomo Petrobelli
  Larry ten Voorde 		Ferrari 296 GT3 LMGT3 112 DNF DNF

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2018–19 TF Sport LMGTE Am Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 SPA
2 		LMS
Ret 		SIL
2 		FUJ
2 		SHA
8 		SEB
6 		SPA
2 		LMS
6 		3rd 99
2019–20 TF Sport LMGTE Am Aston Martin Vantage AMR Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 SIL
7 		FUJ
1 		SHA
1 		BHR
Ret 		COA
1 		SPA
3 		LMS
1 		BHR
8 		2nd 154

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points
2024 Lone Star Racing GTD Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 DAY
8 		SEB
18 		LBH LGA WGL
20 		MOS ELK VIR IMS
15 		PET
10 		38th 945

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2015 TF Sport GTC Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 SIL IMO RBR LEC EST
5 		11th 10
2017 TF Sport GTE Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 SIL
1 		MNZ
2 		RBR
3 		LEC
2 		SPA
5 		ALG
3 		2nd 102
2021 Racing Team Turkey LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
15 		RBR
4 		LEC
6 		MNZ
7 		SPA
Ret 		ALG
WD 		11th 29.5
2022 Racing Team Turkey LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
6 		IMO
7 		MNZ
7 		CAT
10 		SPA
6 		ALG
6 		8th 38
Pro-Am Cup 1 1 2 4 1 1 1st 131
2023 Racing Team Turkey LMP2 Pro-Am Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
1 		LEC
1 		ARA
9 		SPA
2 		PRT
6 		ALG
4 		3rd 94

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

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Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 Rank Points
2018-2019 United Autosports LMP2 Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45 4.5 L V8 SHA
3 		FUJ
5 		CHA
6 		SEP
Ret 		8th 33
2023 DKR Engineering LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DUB
1
2 		DUB
2
2 		ABU
1
3 		ABU
2
1 		1st 76
2023–24 TF Sport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SEP
1
7 		SEP
2
8 		DUB
5 		ABU
1
4 		ABU
2
6 		8th 42

Complete Formula Regional Asian Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2022 Pinnacle Motorsport ABU
1
17 		ABU
2
Ret 		ABU
3
Ret 		DUB
1
23 		DUB
2
21 		DUB
3
21 		DUB
1
25 		DUB
2
22 		DUB
3
21 		DUB
1
21 		DUB
2
24 		DUB
3
26† 		ABU
1
25 		ABU
2
21 		ABU
3
24 		36th 0

References

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  1. ^ a b Salih Yoluc career profile, Driver Database
  2. ^ "Ahmet Salih YOLUC". Companies House. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  3. ^ "WEC - Tom Ferrier on Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  4. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (20 September 2020). "Aston Martins Win GTE Classes; Manufacturers' Title Secured". SportsCar365. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Prema, Cool Racing & Racing Team Turkey Win Race & Championship Doubles, Iron Dames Crush The Field In GTE". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  6. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2023-02-19). "DKR Wins Title With Victory in Abu Dhabi Season Finale – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  7. ^ "Optimum Motorsport Dominates Dubai 24H". the checkered flag. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  8. ^ "Tom Ferrier: From the Michelin Le Mans Cup to the 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMC". www.lemanscup.com. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  9. ^ "Driver Presentation: Salih Yoluc". www.gt3me.com. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  10. ^ "2017 EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES — PROVISIONAL SEASON ENTRY LIST" (PDF). European Le Mans Series. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  11. ^ Kilshaw, Jake (2 February 2017). "Thiim Joins TF Sport for ELMS Entry, Bell for 24H Le Mans". sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Circuit Paul Ricard 1000kms Entry List". blancpain-gt-series.com. SRO Motorsports Group. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Salih Yoluc (Aston Martin) : un pilote turc à la découverte des 24 Heures du Mans..." 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  14. ^ Kilshaw, Jake (8 January 2018). "TF Sport Confirms Step Up to WEC with GTE-Am Entry". sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Porsche wins battle of the heavyweights to conquer 2019 Total 24 Hours of Spa". Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  16. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (20 September 2020). "Aston Martins Win GTE Classes; Manufacturers' Title Secured". SportsCar365. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Eastwood celebrates glorious 24 Hours of Le Mans victory // Infinity Sports Management". www.infinitysportsmanagement.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  18. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-01-11). "TF Sport to Make LMP2 Step with Racing Team Turkey Entry – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  19. ^ "TF Sport to make prototype debut with LMP2 programme in ELMS". 11 January 2021.
  20. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-06-06). "G-Drive No. 26 Crew Takes First Win of Season at Paul Ricard – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  21. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-10-23). "Milesi Scores Back-to-Back Poles with Late Flyer at Portimao – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  22. ^ "Jack Aitken Joins Racing Team Turkey For 2022 ELMS". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  23. ^ "United Autosports Take The Win At Spa, Championship Goes Down To The Wire, Prema vs Panis". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  24. ^ "Prema Racing Win Dramatic Season Finale to Secure 2022 ELMS Title - ELMS". www.europeanlemansseries.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  25. ^ Villemant, Thibaut (30 January 2023). "Asian LMS – DKR Engineering with a crew to compete for the LMP2 title?". Endurance-info. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Belfast's Charlie Eastwood wins Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 in Abu Dhabi". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2023-02-20. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  27. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2023-02-19). "DKR Wins Title With Victory in Abu Dhabi Season Finale – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  28. ^ "DKR Engineering win the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  29. ^ Goodwin, Graham. "Louis Deletraz Joins Racing Team Turkey For 2023 ELMS". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  30. ^ Euwema, Davey (2023-04-23). "Racing Team Turkey Wins Barcelona Thriller – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  31. ^ Euwema, Davey (2023-07-16). "Algarve Pro Takes Dramatic Paul Ricard Victory – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  32. ^ Kilbey, Stephen (26 August 2023). "United ORECA Wins 4H Aragon Thriller". dailysportscar.com.
  33. ^ Euwema, Davey (2023-10-20). "United Beats APR in Rain-Affected 4H Algarve – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  34. ^ "ELMS". www.europeanlemansseries.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  35. ^ Bradley, Charles (11 June 2023). "LE MANS 24H, H9: PEUGEOT LEADS, FERRARI SPINS, #7 TOYOTA OUT". motorsport.com.
  36. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (10 November 2023). "Two Defending Champions in TF Sport LMP2 Lineup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  37. ^ "FIA Publish 2024 Driver Categorisations (Updated) |". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  38. ^ Mercier, Laurent (12 March 2024). "Racing Team Turkey dévoile la livrée de sa Ferrari 296 GT3 pour le Sprint". Endurance-Info (in French). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  39. ^ Dagys, John (January 11, 2024). "Lone Star Commits to Endurance Cup With Mercedes-AMG". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  40. ^ "Salih Yoluc". TF Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salih Yoluç.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
Pro-Am Champion
2019
With: Charlie Eastwood & Ahmad Al Harthy 		Succeeded by
Chris Goodwin
Alexander West
(GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup)
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