SMP Racing has confirmed that it will retain an unchanged driver line-up for its #72 Ferrari 488 GT3 this season.
The Russian entry will continue to contend for Pro class honours in the Endurance Cup, with Ferrari factory drivers Davide Rigon and Miguel Molina competing alongside SMP-backed Mikhail Aleshin. The car will once again be run in partnership with the accomplished AF Corse squad.
2019 will be the third year in which Rigon and Molina have been paired together at the SMP team, having competed alongside Viktor Shaytar in 2017 before former IndyCar ace Aleshin joined the programme last term.
Rigon brings a particularly high level of experience to the trio, having first competed in the Blancpain GT Series during the 2012 campaign. The Italian ace scored his only overall win to date on home turf by triumphing at Monza in 2013.
There is reason to believe that the unchanged SMP-Ferrari line-up could enjoy a competitive season. The #72 machine frequently showed strong pace last term, taking pole position at Monza and contending for victory at Circuit Paul Ricard, but it was not until the finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya that the crew achieved a representative result. Third place at the Spanish venue not only ended the season on a positive note, but also hinted at more to come in 2019.
“As the experience of last year showed, the speed of our car is high, the team is wonderful and ready to meet any challenges," said Aleshin. "My teammates Davide Rigon and Miguel Molina are professional drivers, we worked very well together in the previous season. So, I think that this year we have all the chances to put the puzzle together.”
The SMP-Ferrari will begin the 2019 season at Monza, which opens the Endurance Cup campaign on 13/14 April.