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Rusinov could exit WEC amid "strange" driver rating changes

G-Drive Racing's Roman Rusinov has said he will not return to the FIA World Endurance Championship next year should the governing body not reverse its decision to strip him of his silver-rated status.

#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 - Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, René Rast

#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 - Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, René Rast

Vision Sport Agency

#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 - Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, René Rast
LMP2 Podium: first place #26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 - Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, René Rast
#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, Will Stevens
#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, Will Stevens
LMP2 polesitters: #26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 - Nissan: Roman Rusinov, Alex Brundle, René Rast

The FIA released an updated list of driver ratings before the season finale at Bahrain which saw Rusinov - as well as Signatech Alpine driver Gustavo Menezes and others - promoted from silver to gold status.

Rusinov, an LMP2 contender since 2012, is therefore set to regain the non-amateur status he lost at the end of his title-winning campaign in 2015.

However, the Russian was left furious with the decision, since it will prevent him from returning to WEC as the designated silver-rated driver in his team.

"I don't know [about the future], I have a plan B which is not WEC. [Not ELMS], completely different," Rusinov told Motorsport.com. "In any case, I will not drive if I am staying gold."

In addition, Rusinov was puzzled by the fact some other silver-rated drivers of similar experience, as well as GP2 regulars such as Sean Gelael, weren't promoted to gold status for 2017 by the FIA.

"It's very funny, because they put me gold and they forget about all the GP2 drivers, about Julien Canal, Pierre Thiriet, who are still silver," Rusinov added. "So it's very strange."

Alongside G-Drive teammates Rene Rast and Alex Brundle, Rusinov completed his 2016 LMP2 campaign with a victory in Bahrain, which, being his third consecutive win, earned him third in the standings.

Additional reporting by Erwin Jaeggi

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