In 2016 Salih Yoluc took part in the inaugural Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup race at Imola, driving a TF Sport Aston Martin alongside Euan Hankey.
The Turkish driver became part of the series history when the team won the race by 16.7 seconds ahead of a McLaren 650S and a Ferrari F458 to stand on the top step of the podium.It was also the first step on the road to the MLMC Title for TF Sport that year that saw the British team secure their place on the grid at Le Mans the following season.
Salih Yoluc returns to Imola this weekend leading the ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am championship after taking the class win at the opening race of the season with teammates Charlie Eastwood and Jack Aitken in the TF Sport run Racing Team Turkey Oreca-Gibson.
He now returns to the Italian circuit that saw his first victory in a European championship.
Q: The ELMS and MLMC are returning to Imola after six years away.Imola hosted the very first round of the Le Mans Cup and you and TF Sport won that race.What are your memories of that race?
SY: “It was a really important win for us. It was the first win in a GT3 race for me and TF Sport together. So, it was actually quite a milestone for us. It put us right in contention for the championship for that year, which we weren't really expecting at the beginning of season.But it was at that race, we saw that we could win the championship. So yes, I have really fondmemories of it!”
Q: You have a long association with TF Sport, with you developing as a driver and Tom (Ferrier) building up the team side by side.How important to you and TF was the victory in Imola and the subsequent Team Championship to that development?
SY: "It made us realise that we can go and win the championship and participate in Le Mans, which was the first time at Le Mans for me and it was the first for TF Sport as well. So, from there on mostly been flat out with ACO championships and all the other championships andwe are now here today, driving in an LMP2 at the track which we won our first GT3 race!”
Q: What are your thoughts on the track at Imola and what is your favourite corner?
SY: “I really like it. I'm not sure about driving it with fifty cars around, but I quite like it actually. It’s one of my favourite tracks in terms of layout, corner structure and how fast it is.I think my favourite corner must be the fast chicane, that is just before the hairpin.”
Q: This weekend you will be racing the LMP2 Racing Team Turkey Oreca.You won the Pro/Am category in Le Castellet last time, finishing 6thoverall.How will you approach this weekend on what is a very different circuit to the one at Paul Ricard?
SY: “It’s going to be very difficult to deal with the traffic. It's going to be more about managing the traffic rather than going fastest during the race. So, it's got to be very difficult, but our main objective is obviously to win our class again. But maybe try to finish on the overall podium as well, which is always the aim.”
