REC: The 2026 season will break the record for the number of participants.

      The organizers of the Russian Endurance Racing Series (REC) have announced the details of the 2026 season. A total of 50 crews have registered for the first stage, which means that on May 30, the peloton at the Moscow Raceway will consist of a record number of cars.

      It is also worth noting that a qualitative leap is expected in the sports prototype class, and in one of the most popular categories, an unexpected shortage of spots on the starting grid has emerged, which will not be able to accommodate all those wishing to participate in the race.

      The season consists of five stages, three of which will take place at the Moscow Raceway, and two at the Igora Drive racetrack near St. Petersburg.

      In the CN class (sports prototypes), several significant events are anticipated. Firstly, the student team from the Moscow Polytechnic University has brought the FDR12, a sports prototype of their own design with a hybrid powertrain, to the required level. While last year the presence of this car was only conditional, now it is a fully operational racing machine.

      Competing against it will be another domestic novelty: engineer Igor Ermilin, known for his work on supercars like Marussia and Rossa, will present a new sports prototype called "Phantom."

      However, the main contenders for victory in the overall standings may be the French Ligier in the LMP3 class, although their participation is still shrouded in mystery.

      The engines of cars in this category develop over 400 hp, and considering that the chassis of sports prototypes are quite light, they rank among the leaders in terms of power-to-weight ratio; however, reliability remains the key factor in endurance racing.

      In GT Pro, the most powerful touring class, there is a numerical superiority of Italian machinery. Five Lamborghini sports cars will take to the start of the first stage, but they will face crews in Mercedes AMG GT3, Audi R8, and Porsche. The competition promises to be fierce, and there is currently no clear favorite.

      In the classic GT category, the lineup is generally both stable and high-quality, with participants distinguished by a high level of racing preparation. About a dozen crews are expected, most of which will compete in Mercedes AMG GT4. Starting this season, a Balance of Performance (BoP) system, uniform tires, and a technical weight table will be introduced in GT to level the playing field.

      Interest in the most populous class, GT Light, can be described as frenzied. The acceptance of applications had to be stopped back in April, as the number of applicants exceeded the established quota. This category features cars with engines up to 250 hp, and for the first time, the organizers decided to introduce pre-season technical checks. All cars will undergo mandatory power measurements on an officially certified dynamometer, after which their engines will be sealed.

      It is worth noting the dominance of BMW: 10 out of 17 admitted crews chose the Bavarian brand. Porsche, Seat, Mazda, Volkswagen, and Audi are also represented here. Additionally, the technology in this class has noticeably aged and been updated.

      Cars in the TCR classes, namely Audi, Seat, and Hyundai, have been allocated to a separate category called Touring Car Endurance. This decision will allow them to be separated from the GT Light machinery, as the speed difference between the two classes is quite significant. A total of eight crews from this category will compete in the May race.

      As always, in endurance racing, not only technical reliability plays a key role, but also the choice of tactics; it is not so important to surge ahead in the first turns, but rather to complete laps at a stable pace, control it, switch to more aggressive actions when the situation demands, monitor competitors, and navigate traffic. And, of course, avoid mistakes.

      Overall, the season promises an unprecedented intensity of competition and could become a real thriller, which, let us remind you, will start on the last Saturday of May. Detailed information about the crews will be available closer to the first race.

      F1news.ru is a partner of REC-2026.