FIA F4 NEZ and SMP Racing Renew Contract Until 2019

The FIA F4 NEZ Championship certified by FIA and the Russian motorsport development program SMP Racing renewed their contract to continue their cooperation in the development of Russian young drivers and the extension of the title-partner status until 2019.

The main goal of the Series, created with the support of FIA, AKK and RAF, is to enable young athletes to continue their careers in formula.

Since 2015, the SMP F4 NEZ Championship events are held in the Northern European zone and unite a number of countries, including Russia, Finland, the Baltic states, Scandinavia and Netherlands. The complex system of driver training in the championship allows young athletes to gain skills in working with their engineers, but also with a strong team surrounding them. Current SMP Racing drivers help the new generation to prepare better for the performance in the senior formula series and build a career in motorsport successfully.

Boris Rotenberg, Founder and Head of SMP Racing Program: “I am pleased to announce the extension of the contract with the FIA F4 NEZ Championship. The core idea of the SMP Racing program is a transfer of knowledge, and so is the championship, where experienced athletes and mentors are to help young drivers to start and develop their career in motorsport. Since 2015 when the SMP F4 NEZ Championship was launched many talented drivers had got themselves a great chance to rise. This is our common success. I’m sure we will keep seeking for new talents and help them to grow up and perform on a highest level in motorsport”

Number of Russian drivers have stepped up to higher categories after their SMP F4 NEZ season, as Aleksey Korneev and Alexander Vartanyan in Formula Renault 2.0 or Nikita Troistkiy in F3 Euroformula.
But the SMP F4 NEZ Championship certified by FIA is the unique FIA F4 Series where four drivers have been signed by F1 Junior Programs. It is the case for 2015 Championship winner Niko Kari who entered Red Bull Junior Team so as 2016 Championship winner Richard Verschoor. Jarno Opmeer, 2016 vice-champion and Christian Lundgaard, current 2017 Championship leader, have both been signed by Renault Sport F1 Junior Program.