Erbil youth conquering barber competition in Germany

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World’s largest GT race
Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Spanish-Kurdish race car driver Isaac Tutumlu couldn’t make it to the finish line at the 24 Hours of Spa last weekend—the third round of the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Season. It was Tutumlu’s second appearance at the iconic Belgian marathon event

The Spanish driver of Kurdish ancestry fought up to the front of the Pro-Am Cup class during the opening hours at the wheel of a Ferrari 296 GT3 of ST Racing with Rinaldi, which ran in the Kurdistan Racing Team’s colors.

Tutumlu made a strong start to the weekend during the test for Bronze-rated drivers on Tuesday, when he set the fastest time in the Pro-Am Cup class with a time of 2m18.180s. Tutumlu took part in Q3, just when the rain got heavier, and the Barcelona native still clocked a lap time of 2m40.474s in very tricky conditions and poor visibility.

At the end, Tutumlu and his teammates Samantha Tan, Jon Miller and Leonard Weiss posted an average qualifying lap of 2m33.098s to start 40th out of 72 cars on the starting grid and fourth in class.

On Saturday, Tutumlu completed an opening double stint and handed over the car to his Canadian teammate Tan in fourth place in the Pro-Am Cup class two hours into the race.

“At 2 a.m. in the morning, we had to retire due to a very unlucky incident where my teammate Jon Miller was involved back in the pit—even though the crew did an amazing job. The car had too much internal damage to be repaired on place,” he told Kurdistan 24.

His teammate got involved in a three-car incident and it caused extensive suspension, gearbox and clutch damage, which required emergency repairs during the race. These repairs in turn rendered the car inoperable to continue the race.

However Tutumlu, added that “We still proved our competitive pace with the Ferrari and we feel confident for the 3 Hours of Nürburgring later this month.”

“Spa 24 you’ve been cruel the last two years but we will keep trying it!”

In three weeks,Tutumlu’s team will join the GT World Challenge Europe from 29-30 July 2023 in Nürburgring, Germany.

Tutumlu has dedicated his life to the thrilling world of motorsport racing, and he has done so under the Kurdish flag

Tutumlu’s passion for speed and competition ignited at a young age. He is known for his unique background, hailing from both Catalan and Kurdish heritage.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/31 ... st-GT-race

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Racing Team ready for new challenge
By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Spanish racer of Kurdish heritage Isaac Tutumlu will contest the fourth round of the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season, which takes place in the famous “Green Hell” this weekend

Tutumlu, defending the colors of Kurdistan Racing Team, is back at the wheel of the ST Racing with Rinaldi-run Ferrari 296 GT3 sharing the driving duties with Samantha Tan and Jon Miller.

“This weekend we have the fourth round of the GT World Challenge. It will be a three hours race and it's a track where we had the first podium for the coalition and racing team in 2019,” he told Kurdistan 24.

Tutumlu and his teammates achieved their first podium of the season at Paul Ricard 1000km in France, where they brought a second-place in Pro-Am Cup home with the Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020, and their sights are set on adding more rostrums to their tally in the class.

“So we are very happy to be back here and we're looking forward to repeating the podium we had in France, one half month ago. It's very important for us here in Germany because there's a lot of Kurds living in Germany. So, we expect a lot of fans coming here and we're looking forward to good results.”

The German circuit Nürburgring was built in the 1920s and it still remains as one of the most famous motorsport venues all around the world.

The 3 hours of Nürburgring will be held on the “GP-Strecke” or F1 layout consisting of 4.569 km with changeable weather as one of its characteristic features.

Tutumlu will drive the ST Racing with Rinaldi-entered Ferrari 296 GT3 teaming up with Canadian Samantha Tan and American Jon Miller.

The new Ferrari-built GT3 machinery proved to be extremely competitive during the past Spa 24 hours, despite the team being forced to retire at midnight after being caught in a chain-reaction incident.

Tutumlu will hit the track on Friday morning during the Bronze test. Saturday’s single free practice session will take place at 08:30 with prequalifying scheduled at 12:25.

On Sunday morning, a qualifying session is due to take place at 08:45 with all three drivers in each car taking qualifying duties. The 3-hour race is set to start at 14:45. All track action will be streamed live on GT World YouTube channel.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/32 ... Crburgring

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Kurdish Team finishes 1st
By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Spaniard of Kurdish heritage Isaac Tutumlu finished first in the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup finale in the Pro-Am Class in Barcelona alongside teammates Samantha Tan and Lorcan Hanafin in the ST Racing with a Rinaldi-run Ferrari 296 GT3

Managed by Ferrari, the ST Racing and Rinaldi crews consist of mechanics and engineers specializing in Ferrari’s Formula One division, including the 296 GT3 model used by Tutumlu’s team.

“It was a great race. We started on pole position in first position, and we stayed all the race in first position. It was really nice when we [won] the GT World Challenge finale in Barcelona, the prom class. That's a great success for the Kurdistan Racing Team and Kurdistan,” he told Kurdistan 24.

“We are really happy and we're looking forward to next year's program. We hope that it will be well-received by our community in Kurdistan and that we also get more support.”

He also expressed hope more business entities will give support to the Kurdistan Racing Team in the future. “Because in the end, we're doing a great job. We're fighting against the best teams from different countries around the world, and we are bringing our (Kurdish) flag on top of everything.”

By the same token, Tutumlu finished third in the Pro-Am Cup standings thanks to the season finale victory. “The driver of Kurdistan Racing Team delivered a faultless performance teaming up with Canadian female driver Samantha Tan and British native Lorcan Hanafin at the wheel of the ST Racing with a Rinaldi-entered Ferrari 296 GT3,” Tutumlu’s press office said.

“What an amazing home round! It was a perfect race dominating our Pro-Am Cup class with a lights-to-flag win,” he added in the press release.

“We always kept our strong pace as we perfectly managed our tire wear and degradation. As a result of warm temperatures, other teams cooked their tires but it wasn’t our case during the 3-hour race. It’s an incredible feeling to achieve the first win of Kurdistan Racing Team in such a competitive world-class series in front of my family and friends.”

Ferrari’s new 296 GT3 made its racing debut at 24 Hours of Daytona in Jan. 2023. The car sports a unique plug-in hybrid powertrain accompanied by the car manufacturer's first stock V6 engine.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/32 ... o-Am-Class

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Kurdistan Racing Team in financial trouble
By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Spanish-Kurdish race car driver Isaac Tutumlu told Kurdistan 24 that his team is in need of dire financial support in order to continue racing

“We are in a difficult situation with the Kurdistan Racing Team. We're not getting the support we need to be able to continue racing in 2024. And after the good results we had in 2023, it's pretty surprising.”

Tutumlu last month collected a trophy for the team after finishing in third position in the GT World Championship at the 2023 SRO Awards in London.

“I know the situation economically is not so good nowadays in Kurdistan, but I think our team is, even though in this situation, they should give the support we need because we are the first and only car racing team to represent Kurdistan.”

“I'm calling to all the decision makers and officials from the [Kurdish] government to know about our situation and to get the support from them to be able to represent Kurdistan officially and to be able to claim the image of Kurdistan internationally and to attract the international community for recognition, for support for any investors and tourists.”

“If we don't promote our country, our region, they will never get this [sic] to attract this kind of international investors and tourists. So it's much needed to be able to do that. And I'm calling to not only the private companies, but mostly the government to start supporting and investing in this team which is, as I said, the first and only one to represent Kurdistan.”

He said that the team now has the opportunity to race at the Dubai 24 Hours “which is the most important endurance race in Middle East and Asia, and we competed in the past with the Barzani Racing Team winning two times, but we need to bring money and we have nothing.”

From 2011 to 2014, Tutumlu and his team competed under the name Barzani Racing Team, since they were not permitted to use the name “Kurdistan Racing Team'' during that period due to political sensitivities.

Since 2019, upon obtaining permission to use the name, the Kurdistan Racing Team has actively participated in numerous international race circuits.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... al-trouble

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Zakho to host off-road rally

ZAKHO, Kurdistan - The Zakho Off-Road Group has invited off-road enthusiasts from across Kurdistan to a rally early next month that they hope will grow into an international event

"As the Zakho Off-Road Group, our aim in holding this rally is to make our people from Zakho and our off-road fans happy. We would like to show off our vehicles," Faysel Hogir, a member of the Zakho Off-Road Group, told Rudaw on Friday.

Teams from Zakho, Duhok, Erbil, Barzan, Sulaimani, and Chamchamal will compete in their 4x4s specially adapted for adventures normal vehicles cannot handle.

A team of mechanics will be on hand to repair vehicles that may break down.

"I am a car mechanic and wireman. I will be here to repair any vehicles that may have electric issues or any other problem," said Omar Idris, a Zakho Off-Road mechanic.

Rally organizers are expecting a strong turnout of fans to watch the event that will be run under international standards.

"In the next few days, we will hold a festival here. There are some mechanical problems and we are repairing them. God willing, after that, we will make phone calls with all the off-road teams from Chamchamal, Sulaimani, Erbil, Duhok, and Barzan," said rally organizer Khanim Mohammed Hassan. "God willing, we will hold a beautiful and well-organized rally."

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/270120241

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Foreign snowboarders in festival

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Tourism Directorate of Choman district on Saturday organized a snowboarding festival at Przhe resort in Wenze village. The festival featured 40 snowboarders from European and Middle Eastern countries, as well as a group from northeastern Syria (Western Kurdistan)

Faisal Sadiq, Director General of Tourism of Soran, told Kurdistan24 that besides Choman snowboarders, the festival includes several teams from European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, and France, as well as a group from northeastern Syria (Rojava).

“The environment of the Kurdistan Region is favorable for sports throughout all seasons, allowing for a much better stage to participate in various activities,” the official said.

He suggested expanding the presence of these activities in the Kurdistan Region, including hosting international championships.

“This would contribute to the diversification of the region's income and [increase] overall revenue.”

On February 9th, Sadiq told Kurdistan24 that in January, the Soran independent administration received a total of 100,000 tourists in a month.

Earlier, Sasan Auni, the Minister of Municipalities and Tourism of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said the tourism sector will receive significant attention in accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister and the establishment of the ninth cabinet of the KRG.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/34 ... n-festival

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Skiing festival held in Choman

SORAN, Kurdistan - Local authorities arranged a skiing festival in coordination with international organizations in Erbil province’s Choman district on Friday, aiming to attract tourists to Kurdistan

A total of 30 athletes, 10 international and 20 local, participated in the skiing competition in Choman, located about 93 kilometers northeast of the Kurdistan Region's capital of Erbil.

“Our goal in organizing this event, which consists of a ski competition between local and foreign skiers, was to attract tourists to see the nature of the area and encourage investors to come and launch tourism projects in this location,” Halgurd Mohammed, Choman tourism director, told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar on Friday.

In the Kurdistan Region, especially in the mountainous and snowy areas, talented skiers gathered on occasion of the festivals and competitions organized in the area to show their abilities.

“I have been skiing for four years as a member of the Choman ski team, and I won first place among local and foreign athletes from Germany, Denmark, and the UK,” said Rozh Kamaran, a professional skier.

“I hope to participate in the Olympics,” he added.

The first snow festival in Choman dates back to 1952. The mountains of Balakayati are suitable for three categories of slopes, ranging from low to high difficulty, for both snowboarding and skiing.

“40 local athletes and 10 foreign athletes from Germany, Denmark, and Norway participated in the competition,” said Omar Sharif, the organizer.

Sharif continued saying, “Fortunately, one of our local athletes was able to win [first place] beating the foreign athletes. It is impressive that Kurdish skiers have reached this level.”

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) plans to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2030.

There are about 3,000 beds for winter tourists in the Choman district, and several tourism projects are currently under implementation. The government wants to work with the businessmen behind tourism projects to try to attract more winter tourists.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/15022024

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Youth wins German barber competition

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - A young man from Erbil won first place in a barber competition in Germany, where more than 250 barbers participated

Sherzad Mohammed, a citizen of Erbil, moved to Germany in 2016 and currently resides in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Sherzad participated in the "TOP-Hair" barber competition, an annual event featuring barbers from 16 regions of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Romania.

This year, the competition took place in Düsseldorf, one of Germany's largest cities, with over 250 participants. The Kurdish youth emerged as the winner.

Sherzad Mohammed stated that out of the 250 participants, 50 advanced to the semi-finals.

He also mentioned that several other Kurdish youths from West Kurdistan competed alongside him this year. While Kurdish youth have participated in previous editions of the competition, this marks the first time a Kurd has won it.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/34 ... in-Germany