Former Formulation 1 driver Nikita Mazepin has made a return to European motor-racing after the FIA lifted its ban on Russian drivers.
Mazepin was axed by Haas after one season in early 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, together with its Russian title sponsor, Uralkali.
With Russian drivers, compelled by the FIA’s restrictions, to compete below nationwide neutrality, Mazepin has successfully been out of motorsport at the moment.
However with stated restrictions now lifted, Mazepin has made a return to motorsport in Europe, albeit in modest circumstances.
The 27-year-old is competing within the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy for Crew Motopark, at Spa-Francorchamps.
In a Mercedes-AMG GT3 automobile, Mazepin was capable of rating pole place, and did so by a whopping 4 seconds.
The seismic hole might seem as an enormous shock, however Mazepin has pushed GT vehicles since his time in F1, competing within the 24 Hours of Dubai and within the Asian Le Mans Sequence.
Rinat Salikhov, a fellow Russian driver, can be utilising the lifting of the FIA ban by competing within the GT World Europe Sequence on the Nurburgring.
Mazepin is just not the one ex-F1 driver to compete at Spa, with former Jaguar and Crimson Bull driver Christian Klien – now a pundit on Austrian tv protecting F1 – additionally on the grid.
READ MORE – Mercedes confirms essential George Russell F1 penalty choice
