Koiranen GP to operate Spanish FIA F4

Top single-seater operation Koiranen GP has signed an agreement to promote an FIA Formula 4 championship in Spain from next year.

Koiranen, which is Finnish-owned but based in Barcelona, will add the F4 Spanish Championship to its repertoire after organizing the new SMP F4 series in Northern Europe this year. The Spanish category will be set up in a similar fashion, with Koiranen running all of the cars.

Koiranen fields its own successful teams in Formula Renault 2.0, where its graduates include Toro Rosso Formula 1 racer Carlos Sainz Jr., and GP3.

"Today is a very important day for Spanish motorsport as we have signed an agreement with Koiranen GP, for them to be the promoter of the F4 Spanish Championship for the next three seasons," said Carlos Gracia, the president of the Spanish automobile federation, RFEdA. "We are truly delighted as we are dealing with an internationally recognized entity, which has an excellent pedigree as they have helped drivers such as Carlos Sainz Jr. to reach F1."

Koiranen's Alexandra Consani added: "Our core will is to teach young drivers for them to reach their goal, so the F4 championships are a great opportunity. This category created by the FIA is one that we believe will be essential to each driver's future."

The car that will be used in the Spanish series is yet to be announced, although the SMP series features the same Tatuus-Abarth as seen in the Italian and German championships.

Team boss Afa Heikkinen revealed plans for an F4 winter series to be held in December at Jerez and Portimao, which would allow drivers from other championships to gain additional mileage.

Originally on Autosport.com