December 4–5, 2013 SMP Racing conducted two-day tests on Motorland Aragon track as part of 2014 season training programme. The pilots were driving the following cars: Ferrari 458 GT3, Ferrari 458 GT2 and LMP2 Nissan Oreca.
Anton Ladygin, the pilot of SMP Racing programme, performed a series of races on Ferrari 458 GT3 and also tested a sports prototype LMP2 — a new category for him — showing the best lap time.
Another participant, Sergey Sirotkin, who had his first “GT” experience, tested Ferrari 458 GT3 showing time comparable with the time of the ELMS and Blancpain Series prize winner Kirill Ladygin.
Kirill Ladygin spent two days of tests behind the wheel of a GT2 category car and LMP2 sports prototype which he is already familiar with.
Sergey Zlobin and Maurizio Mediani, the most experienced SMP Racing pilots, made productive adjustments of Ferrari 458 GT3 and GT2 for the next season.
Tests have also marked a new step in technical progress of the team: a great car designer Alexey Manjulo and famous engineer Luigi Urbinelli started working on LMP2 Nissan Oreca prototype.
Tests results are very positive: transfer of the young and more experienced pilots into the categories new for them turned out to be successful, which is the best way to prove that the growth area of training programme, developed by SMP Racing and supported by Ferrari, was chosen correctly.
About SMP Racing programme
SMP Racing support programme of Russian pilots was launched in 2012. It was founded by Boris Rotenberg in cooperation with the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) headed by Victor Kiryanov. Its major task is to offer an opportunity for the most talented pilots to work their way up from kart racing to the highest motor sport categories.
Right now more than 30 pilots are engaged in the support programme. SMP Racing is already providing assistance in professional growth of the young racing drivers in “formula” categories. They follow the classic European racing school scheme: first comes kart racing, then the “younger” series like Formula 4, Formula Abarth, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, and Formula Renault 3.5. Experienced drivers showing highest results also take part in the competitions under the SMP Racing flag. In 2013 SMP Racing team and its pilots became silver medallists in Blancpain Endurance Series (in Pro-Am category) and winners of European Le Mans Series (GTC category).
