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.
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.
There was a plan to revive the championship in 2023 with three stages. It wasn't implemented.
The championship was revived in November 2024 as a single event at the Sirius Autodrom in Sochi. There were 13 participants, 10 of them competed in the race.
History Gerhard Berger and the FIA Singleseater Commission launched the FIA Formula 4 in March 2013. 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. Italian race car constructor Tatuus was contracted to design and build all the cars.
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. 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, continues as the promoter Formula Academy Finland. SMP F4 Championship continue operate SMP Racing, the Russian Automobile Federation.
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 SeasonDriverTeamPolesWinsPodiumsFastest lapsPointsClinchedMargin 2015 Niko Kari N/A 4 7 19 9 449 Race 18 of 21 153 2016 Richard Verschoor N/A 10 11 16 9 339 Race 17 of 20 69 2017 Christian Lundgaard MP Motorsport 7 10 14 10 292 Race 18 of 21 74 2018 Konsta Lappalainen Kart in Club Driving Academy 4 7 15 4 316 Race 21 of 21 41 2019 Pavel Bulantsev SMP Racing 9 5 11 5 254 Race 13 of 13 30 2024 (cup) Yaroslav Shevyrtalov Dronov Motorsport 1 1 1 1 – Race 1 of 1 – 2025 Yaroslav Shevyrtalov LADA Sport 5 2 8 5 323 Race 17 of 18 202025-26 (winter) Vladimir Verkholantsev Formula K Russia2294182Race 9 of 107
Circuits
Bold denotes a circuit will be used in the 2026 season.
Number Circuits Rounds Years1 Moscow Raceway102015–2019, 2025–present2 Sirius Autodrom7*2015–2017, 2024 (cup), 2025-2026 (winter)3 Ahvenisto Race Circuit42015–20184 Alastaro Circuit32015, 2018–2019 Auto24ring32015, 2017 Smolensk Ring32017–2019, 2026 NRING Circuit32018–2019, 2025–present8 Circuit Zandvoort22016 Assen Circuit22017–2018 Autodrom Moscow22018–2019 Kazan Ring22019, 2025–present Fort Grozny Autodrom22019, 2025–present13 Anderstorp Raceway12016 Igora Drive12025–present * 3 in the main season + 4 additional (cup and winter series)
Notes
References
External links