SMP Racing BR01 To Miss Silverstone, Set for Imola Debut

Photo: SMP Racing

SMP Racing’s new BR01 prototype will not make its race debut until the second round of the European Le Mans Series at Imola in May, it has been revealed.

The Russian LMP2 car, designed by Paolo Catone, completed its first rollout last weekend at Paul Ricard, and has continued its testing program in Barcelona this week.

However, with a car’s homologation required to be completed 30 days prior to its first event, it has ruled the Nissan-powered entry out of next weekend’s ELMS season-opener.

Instead, two Oreca 03R Nissans will be fielded for SMP’s full-season drivers, but under the AF Corse banner due to contractual issues.

Maurizio Mediani, Nicolas Minassian and David Markosov will pilot the No. 32 car, with Mikhail Aleshin and brothers Kirill and Anton Ladygin to drive the No. 34 car,with both entries running under the Italian flag for the weekend.

Beginning at Imola, the two all-new BR Engineering-built cars are expected to run for the remainder of the ELMS season, as well as its already confirmed two-car entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John