FIAWEC: Stoffel Vandoorne to race with SMP Racing at Spa and Le Mans

SMP Racing has announced Stoffel Vandoorne as their third driver in the #11 BR1 prototype for the upcoming 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Stoffel Vandoorne will replace Brendon Hartley, who was initially announced for Spa, and Jenson Button, who was believed to be back in the BR1 at Le Mans.  He will join Mikhail Aleshin and Vitalky Petrov in the #11 BR1.  Rumours are going round about Hartley getting a drive at Toyota next year if Alonso leaves the team, at Le Mans he is already tied to RLR Msport in the LMP2 class.  Hartley agreed to give way to Vandoorne in order to let him and the team be better prepared for the 24 hours race in June.   

The talented Belgian driver won the GP2 title in 2015 before racing with McLaren in Formula for 2 seasons from 2017 to 2018 besides Fernando Alonso. Vandoorne now races in the Formula E championship with HWA Racelab and is one of the simulator drivers for the Mercedes FA team, scoring his and the teams' first pole position in the series in Hong Kong and his first podium in Rome last weekend.

Stoffel Vandoorne said: “I am very pleased to join SMP Racing and drive the BR1 №11 prototype in my home race in Spa-Francorchamps and in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The LMP1 cars are really demanding and their performances are very close to Formula 1. I will have the opportunity to re-join ART Grand Prix and a lot of people that I’ve been working with during my succesful campaign in GP2. Also, it´s great to work alongside such experienced drivers as Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin. My objective is to contribute to the Team’s performance and work in collaboration with all drivers to develop the BR1 prototype and to make a good impression.”

SMP Racing driver Vitaly Petrov said: “I understand the decision of Jenson and I wish him and his family all the best. Our SMP Racing Team now needs a driver who will be able to successfully drive in the final two rounds of the FIA WEC and I'm happy that Stoffel has joined us. The race in Spa-Francorchamps will help him to get used to the championship and to prepare for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I hope he will adapt quickly and we will support him along the way”

SMP Racing driver Mikhail Aleshin also commented: “I welcome Stoffel to our team. He is a professional of the highest class and has a good experience, including in Formula 1, where he drove for the McLaren Team. It is great that Stoffel will spend with us several races. We thank Brendon who helped our team to finish on the podium at Sebring. Brendon drove perfectly and his input into the work on the BR1 was very valuable”

There are more changes due in the entry list for the upcoming 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.  More about that in an upcoming article next week. 

Kristof Vermeulen. 

FIA WEC: Brendon Hartley to replace Button at SMP Racing in Sebring and Spa

Brendon Hartley will take Jenson Button's place at SMP Racing for the next two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship: the 1000 miles of Sebring and 6 Hours of Spa. Hartley returns to the FIA WEC after leaving Porsche at the end of 2017 and 2 seasons in Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing. 

The 29 year old driver from New Zealand will join Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin in the #11 SMP Racing BR1. Jenson Button isn't able to race in Sebring and Spa due to commitments in the Japanese Super GT championship.  He is expected to return to the team for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Hartley has also been confirmed as one of four Ferrari development drivers and is still one of Porsche's factory drivers. 

“I’m very pleased to join SMP Racing for the next two WEC races at Sebring and Spa. The team have all the tools and a great driver roster so I think we have a big opportunity to fight for podiums. It marks my return to the WEC and I’m really looking forward to being back in the paddock amongst many familiar faces” said Hartley.

Boris Rotenberg, SMP Racing founder and leader is delighted to have Hartley on board with SMP Racing. “We welcome Brendon as part of our line-up in the World Endurance Championship. He is a very strong driver, with extensive experience: he won the FIA WEC twice, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We are sure that our joint team will make a great contribution to the future victories. I think it will be interesting for Brendon to drive behind the wheel of our new Russian sport prototype BR1 and compete with rivals in the highest class LMP1.”

FIA WEC: Jenson Button's video of his first LMP1 test

Jenson Button had his first test with the SMP Racing BR1 last week at the Magny Cours circuit in France. 

On his youtube channel, the Formula 1 world champion gives you an insight and some behind the scenes footage from his first day at the wheel in an LMP1 car.  Check out the video below !

FIA WEC: Positive first test for Jenson Button with SMP Racing

Jenson Button has completed his first test with SMP Racing and the BR1 at Magny Cours in preparation for his debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

© SMP Racing

The British driver's first impressions after his first stints, totalling five hours, at the wheel of the BR Engineering prototype are very positive.  “I must say that the BR1 is very impressive,” said Jenson Button. “I did not expect to find so much grip in this car. Its traction and downforce is excellent in slow turns in very impressive in high speed corners, despite being a big car. I absolutely loved it, nice for my first test to be around Magny Cours as it’s one of my favourite circuits and I have a lot of great memories from racing there. It felt very much like old skool F1 from when we raced there back in ‘05/‘06".

Button did a solid five hours of testing and felt already comfortable behind the wheel of the beast! "We still have some areas where improvement is needed but it's a good starting point.  We are preparing for Le Mans, on a track where a fast car is needed. I am very satisfied with the hours of testing today, and my progress at the wheel of the machine. The first day with SMP Racing and the BR1 was very positive. I am very happy! There is a lot to think about and give to the team before the tests in June. “ On his Instagram account Button said he was "smiling from ear to ear".

SMP Racing has entered two AER porwered BR1 prototypes in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The # 17 is currently being rebuilt after the car, in the hands of Matevos Isaakyan, took off at Raidillon exiting Eau Rouge at Spa last weekend.

FIA WEC: Jenson Button to drive super season with SMP Racing

SMP Racing has announced Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, as the third driver in the #11 BR Engineering BR1, joining Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov for the 2018/2019 Super season. 

Jenson Button will race with the Russian team in the FIA World Endurance championship, starting at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He won't race in Spa next week due to the date clashing with the second round of the Japanese Super GT Series.  Next to Fernando Alonso, Button is the second F1 world champion to compete in the FIA WEC this season, and the 15th (ex-) F1 driver on this year's grid for the season. 

Boris Rotenberg, SMP Racing founder and leader said: “I’m happy to welcome Jenson Button as a part of our team. He is a top-level driver and Formula 1 Champion. He will race with the Russian BR1 prototype, a car of the top LMP1 category. His teammates will be our strongest drivers Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov. This car was designed with the most advanced motorsport technologies by the best specialists of the Russian company BR Engineering and Italian concern Dallara. We’re sure our line-up is one of the best and most competitive in the FIA WEC.”

Jenson Button added: “I’m delighted to be a part of the SMP Racing team in the FIA World Endurance Championship. My teammates for this year will be Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov whom I know very well from his racing in Formula 1 and Mikhail obviously from his IndyCar exploits. I think with those two and the experience we all have from different types of racing and the team’s fantastic experience in endurance racing we have a great chance to fight at the front and fight for the win and I can’t wait to get going.”

The Russian team SMP Racing will take part in the FIA WEC Super Season with two cars of the top LMP1 category, the Russian BR1 prototypes. The team will be represented by six drivers: Egor Orudzev, Matevos Isaakyan, Stephane Sarrazin (car number 17) and Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov and Jenson Button (car number 11).

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “As has been demonstrated over many decades, the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains one of the great motorsport challenges that World Champions wish to conquer.  We are delighted to welcome Jenson Button to the WEC and to Le Mans in particular and are sure that his presence will be extremely popular with fans across the world.”

Gérard Neveu, CEO of the WEC said: “This is very good news for all motorsport fans, especially those in the UK who will see Jenson at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in August. To welcome a champion of his standing and reputation is great for the whole WEC paddock.”