SMP F4 Championship

Last updated

SMP F4 Championship
SMP F4 Championship logo.png
Category FIA Formula 4
CountryRussia and Finland
Region Northern Europe
Constructors Tatuus
Engine suppliers Abarth
Tyre suppliers Hankook
Drivers' champion Flag of Russia.svg Yaroslav Shevyrtalov
Official website Official website
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

The SMP F4 Championship (also known as the F4 NEZ Championship by SMP Racing) is a racing series regulated according to FIA Formula 4 regulations. It was based in the FIA's North European Zone and the Netherlands, and was only open to drivers from these countries. The inaugural season was the 2015 SMP F4 Championship.

Contents

After the 2019 season SMP Formula 4 Championship lost FIA certification. The series was relocated to Russia as a support series for the Russian Circuit Racing Series. The drivers competes for Cup of Russian Automobile Federation. [1]

There was a plan to revive the championship in 2023 with three stages. [2] It wasn't implemented.

The championship was revived in November 2024 as a single event at the Sirius Autodrom in Sochi. [3] There were 13 participants, [4] [5] [6] 10 of them competed in the race. [7]

History

Gerhard Berger and the FIA Singleseater Commission launched the FIA Formula 4 in March 2013. [8] The goal of the Formula 4 is to make the ladder to Formula One more transparent. Besides sporting and technical regulations, costs are regulated too. A car to compete in this category may not exceed €30,000 in purchase. A single season in Formula 4 may not exceed €100,000 in costs. The SMP F4 was one of the second phase Formula 4 championships to be launched. The first phase championships was the Italian F4 Championship and the Formula 4 Sudamericana which started in 2014. The SMP championship was launched by SMP Racing, the Russian Automobile Federation, Koiranen GP and AKK-Motorsport on 22 July 2014. [9] Italian race car constructor Tatuus was contracted to design and build all the cars.[ citation needed ]

The championship expanded out of the FIA North European Zone for its second season. Following the failure to establish a separate Formula 4 championship in the Benelux region, it incorporated two rounds in the Netherlands, and awarded a Dutch Formula 4 Trophy for these two rounds plus a standalone Formula 4 Festival. [10] MP Motorsport also operated cars alongside Koiranen GP, which ran all drivers in the inaugural season. The championship split, with Koiranen GP leaving from 2019. Koiranen GP creating Formula Academy Finland in 2018, [11] continues as the promoter Formula Academy Finland. SMP F4 Championship continue operate SMP Racing, the Russian Automobile Federation.[ citation needed ]

Car

The championship featured Tatuus-designed and built cars. The cars were constructed out of carbon fibre and featured a monocoque chassis. The engine was a 1.4 turbo Abarth. This is the same engine as in the Italian F4 Championship.

Champions

SeasonDriverTeam Poles WinsPodiumsFastest lapsPointsClinchedMargin
2015 Flag of Finland.svg Niko Kari N/A [a] 47199449Race 18 of 21153
2016 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Richard Verschoor N/A [b] 1011169339Race 17 of 2069
2017 Flag of Denmark.svg Christian Lundgaard Flag of the Netherlands.svg MP Motorsport 7101410292Race 18 of 2174
2018 Flag of Finland.svg Konsta Lappalainen Flag of Finland.svg Kart in Club Driving Academy47154316Race 21 of 2141
2019 Flag of Russia.svg Pavel Bulantsev Flag of Russia.svg SMP Racing [c] 95115254Race 13 of 1330
2024 Flag of Russia.svg Yaroslav Shevyrtalov Flag of Russia.svg Dronov Motorsport1111– [d] Race 1 of 1–
2025 In progress

Circuits

NumberCircuitsRoundsYears
1 Flag of Russia.svg Moscow Raceway 8 [e] 2015–2019, 2025
2 Flag of Finland.svg Ahvenisto Race Circuit 42015–2018
3 Flag of Russia.svg Sirius Autodrom 42015–2017, 2024 [d]
Flag of Finland.svg Alastaro Circuit 32015, 2018–2019
Flag of Estonia.svg Auto24ring 3 [f] 2015, 2017
Flag of Russia.svg Smolensk Ring 32017–2019
7 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Circuit Zandvoort 2 [g] 2016
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Assen Circuit 22017–2018
Flag of Russia.svg NRING Circuit 22018–2019, 2025
Flag of Russia.svg Autodrom Moscow 22018–2019
11 Flag of Sweden.svg Anderstorp Raceway 12016
Flag of Russia.svg Kazan Ring 12019, 2025
Flag of Russia.svg Fort Grozny Autodrom 12019, 2025
15 Flag of Russia.svg Igora Drive 02025

Notes

    1. ↑ The championship had not official dividing for the teams.
    2. ↑ The championship had not official dividing for the teams but it is understood that his car had got a technical support from MP Motorsport. [12]
    3. ↑ 2019 SMP F4 Championship all cars are run by Russian team SMP Racing and technical support from SMP Racing
    4. 1 2 2024 G-Drive SMP F4 Cup included only 1 race, which was held at the Sirius Autodrom.
    5. ↑ Moscow Raceway hosted 2 rounds in 2015–2017, and it will host 2 rounds also in 2025.
    6. ↑ Auto24ring hosted 2 rounds in 2015.
    7. ↑ Circuit Zandvoort hosted 2 rounds in 2016.

    References

    1. ↑ "СМП РСКГ-2019: БОЛЬШЕ ГОНОК, БОЛЬШЕ ПИЛОТОВ!". 8 April 2019.
    2. ↑ "Календарь СМП РСКГ Формула в 2023 году состоит из трех этапов". 9 February 2023.
    3. ↑ "На Сириус Автодроме состоялся Кубок G-Drive SMP F4". 2 December 2024.
    4. ↑ "f4 УТС". 30 November 2024.
    5. ↑ "f4 УТС". 30 November 2024.
    6. ↑ "Кубок G-Drive SMP F4. Списки заявленных пилотов". 27 November 2024.
    7. ↑ "f4 УТС". 30 November 2024.
    8. ↑ "FIA reveals Formula 4 plan". Autosport . 21 March 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
    9. ↑ Allen, Peter (22 July 2014). "Koiranen announces new F4 series for North Europe". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
    10. ↑ Allen, Peter (8 January 2016). "Dutch F4 concept to form part of SMP series from 2016". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
    11. ↑ Wood, Elliot (14 February 2018). "SMP trio named among first drivers for 2018 F4 NEZ season". formulascout.com. Formula Scout. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
    12. ↑ "RICHARD VERSCHOOR KIEST VOOR SMP F4 NEZ MET KNAF EN MP MOTORSPORT". knaf.nl. Dutch. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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