The 2016 Russian Grand Prix support race programme has been announced and the SMP Formula 4 Championship and Mitjet 2L Arctic Cup will form part of the programme.

The fact that these two championships are included in the programme is one of the special features of the Grand Prix this year. It ensures the participation of a large number of Russian drivers at the major motorsport weekend in the country.

"I am glad that Formula 4 and Mitjet 2L will be the support races at the Grand Prix," said Sergey Vorobyev, the promoter. "Sochi Autodrom has been originally conceived as the Russian motorsport development centre, and having races of these series as the support races is an excellent opportunity to introduce new series and promising Russian drivers to the audience.

"All young drivers, without exception, want to get into the motorsport elite, and racing in front of full stands on the same day as their idols can be an incredible incentive for our guys. I am sure that in a couple of years some of those drivers who will come to us in April as Formula 4 drivers will return to Sochi as Formula 1 drivers. And as we have seen numerous times - Mitjet racing (pictured) is an amazing spectacle with a lot of overtaking and wheel-to-wheel battles."

The Grand Prix will include the first round of the 2016 SMP Formula 4 Championship, which unites Russia, Finland, the Baltic states and Scandinavia. SMP Racing, an old-established partner of the circuit, facilitated the establishment of the series through its motorsport support programme. The organisers of this racing series consider their main task to be supporting the development of young drivers. Already after the first seasons in Formula 4, Finn Niko Kari, who won two races of the Sochi round and later became the first champion of the series, became part of the Red Bull development program, and runner-up in the drivers' standings - Vladimir Atoyev - moved to Formula V8 3.5.

Mitjet 2L is a racing series which has proven itself in national championships in France, Italy, the USA, Denmark and since 2015, Russia. The series gained popularity in Russia thanks to its affordability and unified race cars that allow the drivers' talents to be highlighted. Grand Prix visitors will see the third round of the Mitjet 2L Arctic Cup.

Apart from the Grand prix and support races, ticket holders will be able to find other activities to their liking. Over the weekend there will be performances by the best Russian stunt riders and BMX riders, masters of drifting and gymnasts in the Olympic Park. There will be a concert of electronic music on Saturday evening and a big concert featuring Russian pop stars on Sunday evening after the Grand Prix on the main stage of the Olympic Park.