7th place for Tutumlu in Race 1
Tutumlu ran in third place for a while although a non-scheduled pit-stop to avoid a puncture, meant finishing 7th. He was unlucky during his maiden race in the GT3 Cup Challenge Central Europe, the Hungarian championship where he took part this weekend at the wheel of FÖRCH Racing by Lukas Motorsport´s Porsche GT3 RS Cup. On the 3rd row of the starting grid Tutumlu, a Spanish driver of Kurdish ancestry, overtook two cars at the beginning but, unfortunately, he was forced to pit to change his tires.
“I overtook two rivals, running third. However, these rivals were quite difficult to overtake, because for instance one of them is a former FIA GT driver, and I had to try my best. Once, I lost the breaking point and surely was then when a tire was damaged. My car get worse lap by lap and I had to pit, and finally I was seventh at the end”, Tutumlu said. For tomorrow´s race, and after a good second best lap during yesterday´s qualifying session, he is going to start “third and no the least important with new tires. If I make a good start, and I could overtake second driver on the starting grid, who is on used tires, I think it´s possible to clinch a podium finish here at Pannonia Racing, a very surprising and unknown track for me, and very demanding for a driver”.
This first outing in Hungary is to prepare properly next venue of the Porsche Supercup, which is held at Valencia Street Circuit, another important meeting for Tutumlu after first round in Barcelona was cancelled.
Race 2Tutumlu led for a while during the second race of the GT3 Cup Challenge Central but a puncture during last lap prevented taking the win. A great performance for FÖRCH Racing by Lukas Motorsport´s driver who gained important feedback for next round of the Porsche Supercup and increased his racing experience with new Porsche Supercup, a championship where the next venue will be held in a week time at Valencia Street Circuit.
Tutumlu made a great start – he was third on the starting grid- and after some laps he was leading the race, his good race pace was brilliant enough to pull away and run ten seconds ahead of his rivals.
Unfortunately, and as Tutumlu explained, “my car suffered a puncture. It has been a shame, because my first win here was quite close. Even after safety-car was deployed, I was running first but this problem prevented me to win. We don´t know what happened, because it´s strange to have a puncture of rear tire. It isn´t caused by missing a breaking point for example”. Anyway, the feedback was very positive, because “I think this meeting at Pannonia Ring was quite useful to approach next meeting of Porsche Supercup in Valencia more confident. I´m aiming to increase my competitiveness of Monaco in Valencia, a difficult urban track for everyone”