SMP Racing driver Vitaly Petrov will compete in the 4-hour Russian Endurance Challenge (REC), which will take place on August 24 at the Moscow Raceway circuit.
Vitaly will drive the 550hp Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Denis Remenyako for the Capital Racing Team. Previously, the team already achieved success in the REC - in 2017, its cars took three first places in the overall standings.
“I got this offer quite unexpectedly actually,” Vitaly Petrov said. “The Capital Racing Team has been following my racing career for a long time, and when they found out that I was in Moscow, they invited me to drive for them. I agreed. We conducted two test sessions of 40 minutes each. I understand the Mercedes-AMG GT3, I have already driven this car in the Blancpain GT Series, so there is nothing complicated. I think the race on Saturday will be interesting."
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine borrowed from the SLS AMG GT3 and a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The car is fully homologated for competitions. The Capital Racing Team competed with this Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Blancpain GT Sports Club series.
The Russian Edurance Challenge race has been held since 2015. There are several classes competing for victory: GT, CN Prototype, Mitjet, Shortcut and Touring. The race will kick off at 17:00 on Saturday and will finish already at dusk, at 21:00. Participants will drive along the Grand Prix configuration of the Moscow Raceway track, its length is 4009 meters.
