Debut and victory of the new cars at the second stage of REC

      On June 28, at the Moscow Raceway in the Moscow region, the second stage of the Russian Endurance Series (REC) – the 4-hour Sports Grand Prix marathon – took place. Several new cars appeared on the starting grid, including the highly anticipated premiere of two Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo supercars from "ISKRA Motorsport" and Spora GT teams.

      Additionally, the GT Pro standings were supplemented by the "cup" version of the Porsche 911 GT3, driven by the second crew of Spora GT, as well as the Mercedes AMG GT3 from YADRO Motorsport. A whole "detachment" of crews on new equipment prepared to challenge the winners of the previous stage – the Time4Race drivers, competing with Mercedes AMG GT3 number 33.

      An important change occurred just before the race among the favorites: Maxim Kizilov's partner became Denis Bulatov, considered an up-and-coming star in German body series. He replaced Aleksei Nesov, who missed the stage due to participation in the "24 Hours of Spa."

      Qualifying results traditionally placed the light and fast CN Pro prototypes in the first two rows. The second consecutive time, the duo of Igor Mukhin and Georgiy Efrosinin from Blackthorn team, driving a Norma prototype with number 111, was fastest for pole position.

      At the start of the marathon, Andrey Solukovtsev, at the wheel of Lamborghini, attempted to challenge the prototypes in the very first turn, but Georgiy Efrosinin maintained the lead. After the initial laps, Solukovtsev settled into third place, while Efrosinin and his main CN Pro class competitor, Garisteam driver Konstantin Terechenko on a Ligier prototype, left the entire peloton far behind. After a short exchange of attacks, Terechenko took the lead.

      In the beginning of the second hour, the winners of the first race of the season were out of contention: Maxim Kizilov, driving the Mercedes after a brake disc failure and replacing Denis Bulatov, lost control in the last turn before the start-finish straight and, after contact with the barrier, retired from the race.

      Meanwhile, Igor Mukhin regained the lead for Blackthorn, overtaking Garisteam, and a classic REC showdown for absolute leadership unfolded on the track– Norma versus Mercedes. In the last season, Efrosinin and Mukhin usually fought with Denis Remenyako's Mercedes AMG GT3 from CapitalRT, but this time, Blackthorn driver Viktor Shaitar, driving an identical YADRO Motorsport car, joined the fight.

      The experienced professional, with a victory at the "24 Hours of Le Mans" (in the LMGTE Am class in 2015), skillfully exploited Mercedes' key advantage – excellent straight-line speed – and initially managed to pass Mukhin. However, the prototype driver did not allow a gap to develop and, after a few laps, launched an attack on Mercedes, which led to a collision.

      With a broken headlight, Mukhin's prototype again took the lead, and Shaitar had to withdraw to the pits to change a flat tire. The battle, however, did not end there: after the second driver change, YEGOR Efrosinin's barely moving car was torpedoed by his teammate Sergei Stolyarov. Due to damage sustained, Blackthorn's car had to finish the race, narrowly avoiding retirement, as did YADRO Motorsport's team.

      Stolyarov managed to bring the heavily "limping" Mercedes to the pits, where mechanics performed a real feat, replacing the broken front suspension in less than an hour before the finish. After three favorites dropped out of the absolute fight, the top position was taken by Lamborghini #37 driven by Andrey Solukovtsev and Alexander Maslennikov from "ISKRA Motorsport."

      In the final phase, Maslennikov did not give up the lead to anyone and confidently won the overall race and the GT Pro class. The nearest rivals from Garisteam, during a pit stop under yellow flags caused by Efrosinin's accident, failed to overtake. The Ligier prototype of Konstantin Terechenko, Konstantin Zakharovskiy, and Stanislav Sidoruk (crew #29) finished first in their class and second overall, having failed to catch up with the leaders from "ISKRA Motorsport."

      In the GT class, once again, Denis Remenyako and Mikhail Aleshin on the CapitalRT Mercedes GT4 were unmatched, nearly surpassing the higher-class GT Pro Mercedes crew of Stolyarov and Shaitar from YADRO Motorsport at the finish.

      Another victory on the new car was earned by the GT Light team crew from Avatar Racing Team, consisting of Roman Smolyakov and Anton Evtukh. Previously competing in the GT class, they switched to a canary yellow BMW E36 and finished first in their category despite challenges with the hood, which was taped during the race.

      At this stage, luck favored team #113 on a Mini Cooper, which had won its class in the previous series stage in May but, this time, failed to reach the podium.

      Second place in GT Light was taken by X-Rays Motorsport on a Mitsubishi, the REC 2024 class winner. Third were Valery Smirnov and Sergey Baldin from Mazda Karting Academy (#53).

      Among other results, it is worth noting the second place in CN Pro for BALCHUG Racing crew, consisting of Kirill Kirakozov and the renowned Roman Rusinov (2015 world endurance racing champion in LMP2), delighting fans with their return to REC.

      The third step on the prototypes podium rightly belonged to SVL CSKA Racing drivers Alexey Khairov and Alexey Chernov, who did not give up after severe damage to their Ligier early in the race. Similar perseverance was demonstrated by the GT crew #34 from TEAMGARIS, consisting of Stanislav Aksyonov and Eduard Islamov, who competed on a Toyota significantly inferior to their German GT competitors.

      The team SHISHKOIL&YUKA ADV PRO RACING TEAM, whose Mercedes AMG GT4 suffered serious damage during morning qualifying but still hit the track nearly an hour after the race start, saw the checkered flag third in their class.

      In the GT Pro subclass T (Touring), the race was won for the second time this season by crew #91 of GNV & Kamenskiy Racing on an Audi RS3 LMS TCR. Such cars are twice less powerful than GT3 vehicles. REC regulations allow crews with less powerful cars to enter any higher class. Past season events showed that if faster cars retire, subclass winners could stand on the podium in both categories (GT Pro and GT Pro T). However, for 2025, the GT3-based lineup has become noticeably stronger.

      Anastasiya Bendikova, REC General Organizer: "After such a bright and eventful Sports Grand Prix, participants are beginning preparations for the away stage near Saint Petersburg, where on July 26, the Russian Endurance Series will headline the GARAGE FEST festival at Igora Drive 2025.

      It is expected that more than forty crews will line up for the first time in the history of domestic motorsport. Climbing to the podium in such a race will be difficult for sure, and we look forward to intense battles on this challenging modern track. We recommend everyone watch the July marathon from the grandstands of the autocircuit."