SMP Racing
SMP Racing is a Russian motorsport organization and driver development program founded in 2013 by businessman Boris Rotenberg, co-owner of SMP Bank, focused on promoting Russian racing talent across karting, single-seaters, and endurance racing disciplines.[1][2] The program has fielded competitive entries in major international series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, utilizing prototypes such as the BR Engineering BR01 and BR03 in LMP1 and LMP2 classes, often powered by Nissan or Gibson engines.[3][4] Key achievements include securing the LMGTE Am class title in the 2015 WEC season and achieving a third-place overall finish at the 2019 Le Mans 24 Hours as the highest non-hybrid LMP1 car, demonstrating methodical progression from debut entries to podium contention.[5][4] SMP Racing's operations have been impacted by geopolitical events, notably U.S. and EU sanctions imposed on Rotenberg in 2014 over Russia's annexation of Crimea, which prompted responses from the team asserting the measures' political nature, and later withdrawals from WEC commitments in 2019 amid ongoing restrictions.[6][7] Despite these challenges, the program continues to support emerging drivers like Robert Shwartzman and Alexander Smolyar in Formula 2 and Formula 3, emphasizing a structured pathway from domestic karting to global competition.[8]Founding and Early Development
Origins in 2013
SMP Racing was founded in February 2013 by Boris Rotenberg, a Russian businessman and co-owner of SMP Bank, with the primary objective of promoting and developing young Russian drivers in motorsport.[9] The initiative stemmed from Rotenberg's personal involvement in racing, including his participation in the Ferrari Challenge Europe that year, and aimed to create a structured program for talent identification and training backed by the bank's resources.[10] The team's early activities centered on GT racing to build experience and visibility internationally, partnering with established Italian outfit AF Corse to field Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 cars in the Blancpain Endurance Series.[3] This collaboration allowed SMP Racing to debut in a competitive European championship, contesting multiple rounds and laying the groundwork for broader endurance racing involvement.[11] Additionally, the program entered the International GT Open under the SMP Racing banner, following a rebranding from Russian Bears Motorsport, and explored categories like the European Le Mans Series GTC class, where it secured a title win in its debut season.[12] These efforts emphasized empirical progression through partnerships and targeted series participation, prioritizing driver development over immediate prototype racing.[2]Role of Boris Rotenberg and SMP Bank
Boris Rotenberg, a Russian businessman and co-founder of SMP Bank alongside his brother Arkady in 2001, initiated the establishment of SMP Racing in early 2013 as a motorsport program aimed at promoting Russian involvement in international racing.[13][14] The team was formed under Rotenberg's direct oversight, with SMP Bank serving as the primary financial backer, enabling initial investments in driver development, vehicle acquisition, and entry into European endurance series such as the Le Mans Series starting in May 2013.[15][16] SMP Bank's role extended beyond mere sponsorship, providing the foundational capital for SMP Racing's operations, including the branding that directly incorporates the bank's initials to reflect its corporate affiliation. Rotenberg, as a board member of the bank, leveraged its resources—derived from operations across over 40 Russian cities with more than 100 branches—to fund the team's early prototype and GT racing efforts, positioning it as a vehicle for national motorsport talent cultivation.[2][16] Under Rotenberg's leadership, SMP Racing pursued strategic expansions, such as the development of in-house chassis through partnerships like BR Engineering, with bank funding supporting prototype construction and international competition entries by 2014. This financial structure allowed the team to compete at high levels despite the capital-intensive nature of endurance racing, though subsequent international sanctions on Rotenberg and associated entities from 2022 onward curtailed global activities.[17][18]International Endurance Racing Era (2014–2019)
Entry into FIA World Endurance Championship
SMP Racing entered the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2014, fielding two Oreca 03R prototypes equipped with Nissan V8 engines in the LMP2 class.[19][20] The team received technical support from AF Corse and achieved immediate competitive results, with driver Sergey Zlobin securing the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers after consistent points finishes across the eight-round season.[21][2] SMP Racing clinched the LMP2 Teams' Championship, accumulating points through reliable finishes, including a class-leading performance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where their entry earned maximum points for first among points-scoring LMP2 cars.[21] The team also participated in the LMGTE Am class during its debut season, utilizing Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 vehicles managed in collaboration with AF Corse.[22] Drivers Viktor Shaytar and Alexey Basov contributed to class podiums and victories, leveraging the Ferrari's proven endurance capabilities.[2] For the 2015 season, SMP Racing transitioned to a proprietary LMP2 chassis, the BR Engineering BR01, developed in partnership with Brazilian constructor BR Engineering and powered by a Nissan VK56DE V8 engine.[23] Unveiled in November 2014, the BR01 debuted in the WEC that year, enabling the team to maintain competitiveness in LMP2 while introducing Russian engineering elements to the category.[17] In LMGTE Am, SMP Racing secured a landmark victory at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Ferrari 458 driven by Alexey Basov, Viktor Shaytar, and Andrea Bertolini, marking the first overall podium for a Russian entrant in major international endurance racing history.[24]Participation in 24 Hours of Le Mans
SMP Racing debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014, contesting the LMP2 class with an Oreca 03R-Nissan chassis entered as #35, driven by Sergey Zlobin, Mika Salo, and Anton Ladygin; the car retired after 133 laps due to mechanical issues.[25] The team also competed in LMGTE Am with a Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 as #72, piloted by Viktor Shaytar, Andrea Bertolini, and Aleksei Basov, finishing 10th in class after 343 laps.[26] In 2015, SMP Racing shifted to its in-house developed BR Engineering BR01-Nissan prototypes in LMP2, entering three cars (#26, #27, #28) with driver lineups including Kirill Ladygin, Anton Ladygin, David Markozov, and others; #26 and #27 completed 340 laps to place 20th and 21st overall respectively, while #28 retired early.[27] The team's LMGTE Am effort with the #72 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, again driven by Shaytar, Bertolini, and Basov, secured a class victory after 344 laps, capitalizing on retirements among leaders like Aston Martin entries.[28][29] The 2016 edition saw continued LMP2 campaigns with BR01-Nissan chassis, including entries driven by Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov, and Kirill Ladygin among others, though specific finishing positions varied with mechanical reliability challenges typical of privateer prototypes.[30] SMP Racing maintained multi-car efforts in LMP2 through 2017 and 2018 using updated BR01 and Dallara P217 chassis, focusing on Russian talent development alongside experienced hires, but without podiums amid stiff competition from factory-supported teams.[31] For 2019, SMP Racing escalated to the LMP1 class with two BR Engineering BR1-AER prototypes; #11, driven by Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov, and Stoffel Vandoorne, achieved third overall (first non-hybrid) after completing the full distance, demonstrating the car's pace against hybrid frontrunners Toyota and Rebellion.[32] The #17 sister car retired due to powertrain failure. This marked the team's final Le Mans appearance before withdrawing from international endurance racing.[4]| Year | Class | Car | Key Drivers | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | LMP2 | Oreca 03R-Nissan (#35) | Zlobin, Salo, Ladygin | Retired (133 laps)[25] |
| 2014 | LMGTE Am | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 (#72) | Shaytar, Bertolini, Basov | 10th in class (343 laps)[26] |
| 2015 | LMP2 | BR01-Nissan (multiple) | Ladygin brothers, Markozov et al. | 20th-21st overall (340 laps for top two)[27] |
| 2015 | LMGTE Am | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 (#72) | Shaytar, Bertolini, Basov | 1st in class (344 laps)[28] |
| 2019 | LMP1 | BR1-AER (#11) | Aleshin, Petrov, Vandoorne | 3rd overall[32] |
Vehicle Development and BR01 Chassis
SMP Racing initiated vehicle development through its affiliated BR Engineering entity, established under Boris Rotenberg's leadership to produce bespoke prototypes for endurance racing. This in-house approach aimed to comply with LMP2 cost-cap regulations, including a chassis and engine budget limit, while achieving a minimum weight of 900 kg. The strategy enabled customization for SMP Racing's competitive requirements in series like the European Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship.[33][17] The BR01, the inaugural Russian-built LMP2 prototype, commenced development in mid-2013 with Italian engineer Paolo Catone as lead designer. Catone, previously responsible for the Peugeot 905 and 908 Le Mans prototypes, collaborated with international specialists in aerodynamics, composite materials, and mechanics. Aerodynamic optimization occurred in the Fondtech wind tunnel under Jean-Claude Migeot, a veteran from Ferrari, Tyrrell, and Renault teams. The carbon fiber monocoque chassis incorporated push-rod suspension for enhanced performance.[34][35][36] Technical specifications of the BR01 included a Nissan VK45DE 4.5-liter V8 engine producing approximately 600 horsepower, paired with a Hewland TLSR six-speed sequential semi-automatic transmission and AP Racing carbon clutch. Dimensions comprised a length of 4650 mm, width of 2000 mm, height of 1043 mm, and wheelbase of 2930 mm. The prototype was finalized in February 2015 and underwent initial testing at Paul Ricard, accumulating around 7,000 km before handover to SMP Racing drivers including Nicolas Minassian, Mikhail Aleshin, and Maurizio Mediani.[37][34] The BR01 debuted at the 4 Hours of Imola in the 2015 European Le Mans Series under SMP Racing, securing a podium finish in its inaugural season. It later competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, validating the development process's efficacy despite the regulatory constraints. Five chassis were ultimately produced to support expanded programs.[38][39]Single-Seater and Domestic Programs
FIA Formula 2 Championship Involvement
SMP Racing's engagement with the FIA Formula 2 Championship centered on its driver development program, which provided financial backing, training, and placement opportunities for promising Russian and affiliated drivers in established teams, rather than operating its own entry. This approach aimed to cultivate talent progressing toward Formula 1, leveraging partnerships with squads like Prema Racing and Charouz Racing System.[40][41] A flagship participant was Robert Shwartzman, who joined Prema Racing for the full 2020 season following his FIA Formula 3 title win, with SMP Racing announcing his commitment on November 28, 2019. Shwartzman achieved three race victories that year, including sprints at Bahrain and Spa-Francorchamps, and a feature race at Monza, culminating in fourth place overall with 177 points. He returned with Prema in 2021, securing two wins—at Bahrain and Silverstone—and finishing runner-up in the championship with 252 points, trailing only Oscar Piastri. SMP Racing's support extended to pre-season testing, where Shwartzman posted competitive times, such as second-fastest overall during December 2019 sessions at Yas Marina, trailing Louis Delétraz by 0.052 seconds.[40][42] Other drivers benefited from the program, including Sergey Sirotkin, who conducted pre-season testing for the 2020 campaign, drawing on his prior GP2 experience. Alexander Smolyar, another SMP protégé, transitioned to F2 after Formula 3, with the team noting delays to his debut due to the COVID-19 pandemic but confirming his participation in testing alongside Shwartzman. Matevos Isaakyan, an SMP Racing member, raced the season-ending rounds in 2019 with the Sauber Junior Team (Charouz), partnering Callum Ilott at Sochi and Abu Dhabi following an injury replacement stint earlier that year. These efforts underscored SMP Racing's strategy of embedding drivers in high-caliber environments to maximize exposure and skill refinement, though geopolitical factors curtailed activities post-2022.[43][43][41]SMP F4 Championship and Russian Series
The SMP F4 Championship, also known as the F4 NEZ Championship, is a single-seater racing series regulated under FIA Formula 4 specifications, established by SMP Racing in partnership with the Finnish team Koiranen GP to foster young drivers transitioning from karting.[44] Launched in 2015 and based in Russia's North European Zone, the series aimed to provide equal opportunities for emerging talent to develop skills in a competitive formula environment using standardized Tatuus T-014 chassis powered by Ford EcoBoost engines.[45] It operated annually through 2019, hosting rounds at circuits such as Moscow Raceway, Igora Drive, and Nizhny Novgorod Ring, with events emphasizing safety, technical parity, and progression toward higher formulas.[46] After a five-year hiatus due to geopolitical and organizational factors, the championship relaunched in 2025 as its sixth overall season, with the opening round held May 15-18 at Moscow Raceway.[47] The 2025 calendar includes six events: June 13-15 at Igora Drive, July 11-13 at Nizhny Novgorod Ring, August 15-17 at Moscow Raceway, September 12-14 at Kazan Ring, and October dates to conclude the season.[48] Early competition saw Russian driver Artem Severiukhin take the points lead after the first two rounds, demonstrating the series' role in nurturing domestic talent amid limited international access for Russian competitors.[46] By September 2025, Severiukhin reclaimed the lead at Kazan Ring following pre-event testing and intense racing, underscoring the championship's focus on skill-building over five-year-old hardware still compliant with FIA standards.[49] Complementing the F4 program, SMP Racing organizes the Russian Circuit Racing Series (RCRS), a multi-class national championship since 2014 that includes single-seater elements alongside touring cars, GT, and prototypes to broaden driver development pathways.[50] The 2025 RCRS, its twelfth season, features categories such as Super-Production, Touring, GT4, and CN prototypes, held at venues like Smolensk and Krasnoyarsk, with over 90 drivers annually competing in Russian and imported machinery. While primarily non-formula, the series integrates SMP's talent pipeline by allowing F4 graduates to gain experience in mixed grids, as seen with academy member Irina Sidorkova's participation in 2020 RCRS events before her single-seater return.[51] This domestic ecosystem supports SMP's objective of sustaining Russian motorsport amid external sanctions, prioritizing verifiable progression metrics like lap times and championship finishes over international benchmarks.[1]Other National and Regional Competitions
SMP Racing supports participation in the Russian Karting Championship and Cup, which forms the entry-level foundation for driver development within the national motorsport ecosystem.[52] This involvement targets young athletes, providing structured competition to identify and cultivate talent prior to progression to higher formulas.[53] The program integrates karting as the initial step, emphasizing skill-building in domestic events sanctioned by the Russian Automobile Federation.[54] Beyond circuit-based series, SMP Racing operates the SMP Russian Drag Racing Series, focusing on straight-line acceleration events with specialized vehicles.[54] This national competition expands the program's scope to include drag racing disciplines, attracting drivers interested in high-speed, short-distance formats. In 2018, SMP Racing collaborated with the Russian Automobile Federation to pursue FIA sanctioning for a TCR Russia series, aiming to introduce touring car racing aligned with international TCR regulations domestically.[55] These efforts complement core circuit racing by diversifying national participation opportunities.
Drivers and Talent Pipeline
Key Drivers and Lineup Evolution
SMP Racing's early lineups in GT categories featured Russian drivers Aleksey Basov and Viktor Shaytar, often paired with Italian professional Andrea Bertolini in Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 vehicles, securing victories such as the 2013 European Le Mans Series GTE-Am class win on June 14-15.[24] These gentleman-professional combinations emphasized national participation while leveraging expertise for competitive results in endurance events. From 2014, as SMP expanded into prototype racing within the FIA World Endurance Championship's LMP2 class using Oreca chassis, lineups integrated more specialized drivers; Sergey Zlobin clinched the LMP2 drivers' title that year amid team shuffles across entries.[21] The progression to LMP1 in 2018 with the BR Engineering BR1-AER prototype marked a shift toward elite international talent, exemplified by former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button joining for the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16-17, where he piloted the non-hybrid car alongside Russian teammates.[56] Key prototype drivers like Russian Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov became staples, contesting multiple Le Mans campaigns; in 2019, they formed part of the #3 BR1 entry on June 15-16, finishing competitively in the privateer LMP1 field.[57] French veteran Stéphane Sarrazin also featured prominently in SMP's LMP1 efforts, contributing to the team's strategy of blending domestic pros with global experience for technological and performance gains. In single-seater feeder series, SMP supported emerging Russian talents as part of its academy pipeline, backing Sergey Sirotkin through GP2 successes and his 2018 Formula 1 stint with Williams.[58] Later, drivers like Robert Shwartzman and Alexander Smolyar received program aid for their 2020 Formula 2 and Formula 3 debuts, with Shwartzman achieving multiple podiums including a Hungaroring feature race win on July 18, 2020.[8] Artem Markelov, another SMP-backed driver, secured eight GP2/FIA Formula 2 victories across seasons with Russian Time.[59] This dual-track approach evolved from GT-focused national efforts to a hybrid model fostering youth via single-seaters while pursuing podiums in endurance prototypes.[60]Driver Academy and Development Strategy
SMP Racing maintains a driver academy dedicated to the selection and development of young Russian talent, serving as a platform to prepare drivers for international competitions and elevate Russian representation in global motorsport.[60] The program targets individuals from karting onward, prioritizing those already competing professionally in categories such as Mini and OK karts to build foundational skills in speed, consistency, and racecraft.[61] This approach integrates technical training, simulator work, and physical conditioning, often in partnership with series organizers and equipment suppliers to provide structured progression.[60] The development strategy emphasizes a multi-tiered pathway, beginning with domestic entry-level single-seaters like the SMP F4 Championship, which adheres to FIA Formula 4 regulations and resumed operations in 2025 after a hiatus since 2019.[62] Promising juniors advance to international formulas such as Formula 3 and Formula 2, where SMP Racing has fielded teams and provided financial backing, as seen with drivers like Alexander Smolyar entering F3 in delayed 2020 campaigns due to external factors.[8] Parallel to single-seater tracks, the academy incorporates endurance racing exposure, placing young drivers in professional lineups during FIA World Endurance Championship events from 2014 to 2019 to foster stamina, teamwork, and adaptability under high-stakes conditions.[15] Key outcomes include alumni achieving milestones in elite series: Sergey Sirotkin progressed through the program to secure a full Formula 1 seat with Williams in 2018, marking Russia's return to the grid after a decade.[63] Robert Shwartzman, supported early by SMP, reached Formula 2 podiums and joined the Ferrari Driver Academy, conducting F1 test sessions by 2022.[8] Other participants, such as Irina Sidorkova and Pavel Bulantsev, have competed in junior formulas and national events, with the academy's focus on long-term professionalization yielding drivers capable of sustaining careers amid competitive and geopolitical pressures.[64][65] This pipeline has historically aimed to produce not only racers but also ambassadors for Russian motorsport, though international sanctions since 2022 have necessitated a pivot toward domestic series for continued nurturing.[15]Performance and Results
Endurance Championship Outcomes
SMP Racing secured the LMP2 teams' championship in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, competing with Oreca 03R chassis entered as two cars driven by combinations including Roman Rusinov, Dmitriy Petrakov, and Kirill Ladygin.[66] The team accumulated sufficient points across the season's eight rounds to claim the title, marking their first major international endurance success in prototype racing.[66] Transitioning to the LMGTE Am class for 2015, SMP Racing won both the drivers' and teams' championships in the FIA WEC with a Ferrari 458 Italia, driven primarily by Viktor Shaytar, Aleksey Basov, and Andrea Bertolini.[5] [67] Key victories included the LMGTE Am class at the 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, contributing to the season-long points lead. [68] This achievement made SMP Racing the first Russian team to win a WEC class title.[69] In the European Le Mans Series, SMP Racing claimed the GTC class championship in 2013 during their debut international season, utilizing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 machinery.[17] Subsequent ELMS campaigns yielded class podiums and individual race wins, such as the 2014 GTC victory at Paul Ricard, but no further outright class titles.[70] [2] The team's 2018–2019 FIA WEC entry in the LMP1 class with the BR Engineering BR1-AER prototype focused on privateer competition against manufacturer efforts, scoring consistent points across seven rounds but finishing outside the top positions in the LMP1 private drivers' standings.[71] [72] Notable results included practice session leads, such as at the 2019 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, though mechanical issues and the dominance of Toyota Gazoo Racing limited overall contention.[73] SMP Racing withdrew from the series after the 2019 Le Mans, citing achievement of developmental goals.[4]| Season | Series | Class | Achievement | Key Drivers/Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | ELMS | GTC | Champions | Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 |
| 2014 | FIA WEC | LMP2 | Teams' Champions | Oreca 03R (multiple) |
| 2015 | FIA WEC | LMGTE Am | Drivers' & Teams' Champions | Ferrari 458 Italia (Shaytar/Basov/Bertolini) |