Mikhail Aleshin

Mikhail Petrovich Aleshin, born on May 22, 1987, is a Russian professional racing driver with a diverse career spanning various motorsport disciplines. Aleshin's journey began in karting from 1996 to 2000, setting the foundation for his transition into international open-wheel racing in 2001. He achieved a significant milestone in 2007, becoming the first Russian driver to win a major international single-seater race at the Formula Renault 3.5 Series season opener in Monza. That same year, he debuted in the GP2 Series. Aleshin continued to hone his skills in Formula Renault 3.5, securing the series championship in 2010.

Aleshin's career also includes stints in FIA Formula Two, GP2 Asia Series, and a notable presence in IndyCar. In 2014, he entered the IndyCar Series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, marking his debut in the Indianapolis 500. He secured a second-place finish in Houston that same year. While a practice crash at Fontana in 2014 caused injuries, he returned to IndyCar, demonstrating his resilience. Beyond open-wheel racing, Aleshin has competed in the European Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship, including participation in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. More recently, he has been involved in team management roles, particularly in Formula 4, focusing on nurturing young Russian talent in motorsport. As of late 2023, he had returned to racing in endurance events after a period focused on driver coaching and development.