Renault Formula One test driver Sergey Sirotkin will make his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut next month with the SMP Racing LMP2 squad.
Sirotkin, 21, has been confirmed alongside IndyCar driver Mikhail Aleshin and 2015 World Endurance GTE-Am champion Victor Shaytar for the French endurance classic on June 17-18.
The all-Russian crew will share a Dallara P217-Gibson, as part of groundwork preparations for a new non-hybrid LMP1 project jointly orchestrated by SMP Racing and the Italian chassis manufacturer.
Sirotkin's 2016 GP2 team ART Grand Prix has been contracted to help run the LMP1 venture starting next year.
"It was already tradition for us [to race] at Le Mans with a Russian crew," said SMP Racing founder Boris Rothenberg.
"Although we focused on building the LMP1 sport prototype for the 2018 FIA WEC season, we can not help taking part in the most prestigious race on the planet."
"Last year, for the first time in the history of this more than 90-year race, our fully Russian SMP Racing crew was on the podium And this time, I'm sure, the guys will also try and do everything possible to win."
"In addition, the #27 crew will race a Dallara, with which we are building a new sport prototype for the coming season. This will allow us to gather a lot of necessary technical information for further joint work. "
SMP Racing previously announced plans to run the P217 in four rounds of the European Le Mans Series, starting with the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring in late July.
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