The second season of the SMP F4 North European Zone Championship certified by FIA will get underway this weekend during the 2016 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi.

After a first successful season where the opening round of NEZ F4 supported events in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, in 2016 the North European Zone Series will have the honour to open the Russian F1 Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom.

Twenty drivers from Russia, Finland, Netherlands and Spain will show their skills to the fans and journalists coming from all around the world, and with 2015 series champion Niko Kari enjoying his first podium in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at Hungaroring last weekend, the latest crop of young drivers are sure to be fired up to show what they can do.

Afa Heikkinen, SMP F4 NEZ Championship promoter, said, “We are looking forward to this first round. We will create a great event for the season opener, it will be hard for the drivers as it will be their first race weekend and on top of that racing with Formula One will add a bit more pressure, but it will be a good learning exercise for the.”

The competition will start on April 29th with the Free Practice and Qualifying sessions. Saturday will feature Race 1 to end the weekend on Sunday with Race 2.

For more information about the SMP F4 NEZ Championship click here.