Russia First to Name Drivers for FIA Motorsport Games

Russia has named its GT drivers for the FIA Motorsport Games, becoming the first country to confirm its lineup for the inaugural inter-nation event later this year.

The Russian squad, which covers all six disciplines of GT, Formula 4, TCR, karting, drift and e-sports, is led by its GT effort with a Ferrari 488 GT3 prepared by Rinaldi Racing.

The car will be driven by Denis Bulatov and Rinat Salikhov, who represented their country in last year’s FIA GT Nations Cup held in Bahrain.

20-year-old Bulatov, who is FIA silver-rated, and bronze-rated Salikhov currently co-drive a Rinaldi Ferrari in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.

The pair achieved a fourth-place finish in the Nations Cup, which acted as a precursor to the multi-discipline FIA Motorsport Games which takes place on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

The GT competition will run to the same format as the Nations Cup, with Pro-Am GT3 teams taking part in two-driver races.

Russia’s other drivers for the event, which is being held at the Vallelunga Circuit near Rome, include teenagers Pavel Bulantsev and Klim Gavrilov who will race in F4 and TCR respectively.

Four-time Russian drift champion Ilya Fedorov and 40-year-old e-sports racer Vasily Anufriev also feature in the contingent.

Each ASN (national motorsport association) is responsible for nominating its country’s drivers for the Motorsport Games, which is being promoted by SRO.

Lineups for the GT segment can be either silver-bronze, or bronze-bronze.