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Smolyar withdraws from FIA F3 amid restrictions on Russian drivers

Smolyar withdraws from FIA F3 amid restrictions on Russian drivers

The MP Motorsport driver said on Thursday that he would not compete after his main sponsor, SMP Racing, ended its European program.

The FIA had said that Russian drivers would only be allowed to compete under a neutral flag and banned them from displaying their flag both in public and on social media.

All sanctioned competitions in Russia and Belarus were also cancelled, with Formula 1 ending its contract with the Sochi Grand Prix promoters.

In a statement on Thursday, Smolyar wrote: “I will not compete in FIA F3 and any international racing series this year.

“I stand with the decision of SMP Racing to stop its European program as a result of an unprecedented requirements that FIA put on any Russian driver as a condition for access to international competitions.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support in these difficult times.”

Smolyar drove for ART Grand Prix in 2021, finishing sixth in the drivers’ standings, and had been set for a move to Dutch outfit…

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