ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Racing Team won its first ever podium place at the Gran Turismo Touring Car Cup at Germany’s famed Nurburgring in Nurberg on Saturday, coming in third place.
The team was led by Issac Tutumilu, taking his place on the winner’s podium with the Kurdish flag draped around his waist, its sun emblazoned on his chest.
“I am very happy that won this title. I took part in the name of Kurdistan. I had prepared well for this championship. There was intense competition in the beginning, but I eventually made a good comeback,” he told Rudaw.
Born in Barcelona to a Spanish mother and Kurdish father in 1985, Tutumilu’s passion for motorsports was ignited at an early age, jumping into a go-kart at the age of 2.
Debuting in an international race in 2009, his career has since taken him to some of the most illustrious racing venues across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including the Porsche Mobil Supercup in Monaco and Daytona’s famed 24-hour race.
Tutumilu once participated by establishing the Barzani Racing Team, asking for then-President Masoud Barzani’s permission to race under his name.
After impressive performances in 2012, the Swiss-based car federation FIA granted Tutumilu official permission to represent Kurdistan, he told Rudaw in 2013.
The next Gran Turismo race takes place in Hockenheim, Germany on July 6.
The team was led by Issac Tutumilu, taking his place on the winner’s podium with the Kurdish flag draped around his waist, its sun emblazoned on his chest.
“I am very happy that won this title. I took part in the name of Kurdistan. I had prepared well for this championship. There was intense competition in the beginning, but I eventually made a good comeback,” he told Rudaw.
Born in Barcelona to a Spanish mother and Kurdish father in 1985, Tutumilu’s passion for motorsports was ignited at an early age, jumping into a go-kart at the age of 2.
Debuting in an international race in 2009, his career has since taken him to some of the most illustrious racing venues across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including the Porsche Mobil Supercup in Monaco and Daytona’s famed 24-hour race.
Tutumilu once participated by establishing the Barzani Racing Team, asking for then-President Masoud Barzani’s permission to race under his name.
After impressive performances in 2012, the Swiss-based car federation FIA granted Tutumilu official permission to represent Kurdistan, he told Rudaw in 2013.
The next Gran Turismo race takes place in Hockenheim, Germany on July 6.
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