SRO Will Adhere to FIA, ASN Positions on Russian Drivers

SRO Motorsports Group will adhere to driver-based rulings issued by the FIA and national motorsport authorities in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The GT racing promoter, which runs several series including GT World Challenge powered by AWS, has outlined its position after the FIA and Motorsport UK announced their stances on the participation of Russian and Belarusian nationals earlier this week.

An SRO spokesperson told Sportscar365: “SRO will adhere to the FIA and ASN rulings with regards to Russian license holders.”

The FIA is allowing Russian individuals to continue racing under a neutral flag and this policy will be followed by SRO.

It means that Russian drivers such as Timur Boguslavskiy and Konstantin Tereschenko will be able to participate in the GTWC Europe season with the French AKKA-ASP team.

Motorsport UK on Wednesday declared a stricter position on Russia’s military action in Ukraine, with all Russian and Belarusian nationals barred from competing in the UK.

SRO’s adherence to FIA and ASN protocols means that Russian or Belarusian drivers will not be able to take part in the Intelligent Money British GT Championship or the GTWC Europe Sprint Cup round at Brands Hatch in April.

Reigning British GT champion Leo Machitski, who races under the Russian flag, is due to defend his title this year with Lamborghini squad Barwell Motorsport.

Boguslavskiy is due to drive for AKKA-ASP in Sprint Cup, while Tereschenko is signed up for the GTWC Europe Endurance Cup season only and is therefore unaffected by the Motorsport UK ban.

This article was updated on Friday, March 4 following clarification from AKKA-ASP that Boguslavskiy’s planned program covers the Endurance and Sprint Cups.