After the recent confirmation that Team Hong Kong will be represented by a Reno Racing-run Honda NSX GT3 Evo crewed by Marchy Lee and Paul Ip in the GT Cup element of November’s FIA Motorsport Games to be held at Vallelunga, four further nations have confirmed their participation and the details of their efforts.
Team Russia sees the return of the duo that represented their nation at last year’s FIA GT Nations Cup, 2018 Spa 24 Hours class winner Rinat Salikhov and 21-year-old Denis Bulatov. The pair will once again drive a Ferrari 488 GT3 prepared by Rinaldi Racing.
Team USA fields Spencer Pumpelly and Robert Ferriol in another 488 GT3, this time AF Corse taking care of its preparation.
Ferriol is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and now races in both the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the US domestic Porsche one-make series.
Silver-graded competitor Pumpelly is a long-time stalwart of GT racing in North America with four starts at the Le Mans 24 Hours amongst the highlights on his racing cv.
Team Spain enter entries Alvaro Lobera and Fernando Navarrete Jr, who will drive a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo operated by Racing Team Spain.
Whilst Bronze-graded Lobera has considerable expertise in circuit racing, particularly in his homeland, more recently his motorsport has focused on stage rallies. Navarrete’s career behind the wheel stretches back almost 20 years and includes single-seater, touring car and GT series. He and Lobera know each other well from several endurance outings and currently, compete as teammates in Spain’s domestic touring car championship.
He and Navarrete have previously shared driving duties in endurance racing and compete as teammates in their domestic touring car series,
Silver-graded Navarrete knows his way around the Lamborghini Huracan, having driven the same machine for Team Lazarus during this year’s Total 24 Hours of Spa.
Team Belarus’s effort will be driven by father-son duo Alexander Talkanitsa Snr and Alexander Talkanitsa Jnr. They will share a Ferrari 488 GT3 run by their own AT Racing squad, with technical assistance from AF Corse.
