Renault's Sirotkin to race at Le Mans

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Renault reserve driver Sergey Sirotkin has found a seat in the World Endurance Championship for next month's Le Mans 24 Hours race.

The Russian hopeful, who gets another outing with Renault today in Barcelona as he takes over Jolyon Palmer's car in FP1, has been recruited to drive an LMP2 Dallara P217 thanks to suppoirt from SMP Guise, the company which is backing his career.

Sirotkin will team up at the classic endurance event with Indycar driver Mikhail Aleshin and Viktor Shaytar.

"It was already a good tradition for us to perform at Le Mans with a the Russian crew," said Boris Rothenberg, SMP Racing chief.

"Although we are focused on building the LMP1 sport prototype for the 2018 season, we cannot help but take part in the most prestigious race on the planet."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.