SRO Motorsports Group, organisers of the FIA GT3 European Championship, has been informed that the new Russian circuit at Smolenskring will not host the Championships historic first visit to the country on the 20/21 August 2011.
 
The FIA GT3 European Championship was set to be the first international automotive championship to race in Russia and the event was subject to the circuit receiving FIA approval.  The track changes are still in progress but the event will not now go ahead due to promoter not receiving the expected local financial support in time to meet the requirements to hold an international FIA event. The race will now be held at another venue on the same dates, the name of which will be announced soon.

Stephane Ratel, CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group, said: “We have been working hard with the Russia promoters to find a solution to the problem but at the end of the day we understood that we can’t race in Russia in 2011.  While I am disappointed by this we have to look to the future and Russia is a very important market for the sportscar and luxury brands that are associated with the FIA GT3 European and FIA GT1 World Championships.  We will continue to work to have a race in Russia in the near future, probably in 2012.  We will be announcing the alternative venue for Round 5 as soon as we have finalised everything with the new circuit.”