24h Le Mans
The continuation of the World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) has seen Russian team SMP Racing maintain the momentum started with its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the form of one win and one podium finish.
In June, SMP Racing was the first Russian team to have its national anthem played at the 24 Hours circuit with the win in LM GTE Am for the Ferrari 458 Italia of Viktor Shaytar-Andrea Bertolini-Alexey Basov. Additionally, the two BR01 prototypes entered in LM P2 made it to the checkered flag. On August 30th, the Russian team's Ferrari scored its second consecutive victory at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, fourth round of the World Endurance Championship, which has earned them a comfortable lead in the LM GTE Am team and driver standings. One week later, the BR01 claimed its first overall podium finish at the 6 Hours of Le Castellet, next-to-last round of the 2015 ELMS season. The two cars finished second and fourth, behind Greaves Motorsport and Jota Sport's Gibson 015Ss. The 4 Hours of Le Castellet also marked a change in name: the outfit is now to be referred to as AF Racing.
The last race of the 2015 ELMS season, at Estoril, could culminate on October 18th in a first win for the BR01, whose progress has been as methodical as it has been efficient throughout the season. In case of victory, will the BR01 join the field in the 2016 World Championship? We don't know yet, but BR Engineering is not one of the four constructors authorized to build LM P2 chassis starting in 2017. But if it was, it would be a logical step. After having won in 2014 both the LM P2 title (with an Oreca 03 chassis) in the World Championship and all the LM GTE and GTC titles up for grabs in the ELMS, while largely leading in LM GTE Am in the 2015 World Championship, an eventual title in LM P2 in 2016 with its own car would nicely round out an already highly impressive record. In the meantime, there is still a long way to go in the 2015 season, but the road already traveled has proven glorious for SMP Racing/AF Racing...
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, WEDNESDAY JUNE 10 2015, FREE PRACTICE & QUALIFYING. The Russian BR01 chassis draws nearer and nearer to the highest step on the podium in the European Le Mans Series.
