The fastest track of the season determined the champion: final of the URAL regional league in gymkhana

When the organizers of the final stage of the regional league “URAL” of the Yuka Drive Gymkhana Lite Fortis series promised the fastest configuration of the season, the intrigue was not only in the fight for the championship title. Before the start, the series’ sports director Vasily Shults spoke about a completely new layout with a drive through the pit lane right next to concrete blocks – an element where the cost of a mistake was expected to be especially high. In practice, the track fully lived up to expectations.

Already in qualifying it became clear that the high-speed configuration required maximum precision from the drivers. The best time was set by Maxim Akhtyamov from Chelyabinsk in a Toyota Corolla – 2:22.859. Nikita Belioglov in a BMW E36 lost to him by just over two seconds, and this result was enough for Akhtyamov to secure the championship title of the regional league “URAL” ahead of the start of the paired runs.

However, Sunday’s runs showed that qualifying and the fight for the stage victory are two different stories. Akhtyamov himself unexpectedly ended his performance already in the TOP-16 due to a technical malfunction of the car, while the new track configuration continued to claim its “victims.” The organizers’ forecast proved accurate: the concrete blocks did not forgive mistakes. In the TOP-8, contact with the barrier put an end to Igor Sakharov’s fight for the stage victory.

After the elimination of the season leader, the fight for victory was completely wide open. In the semifinals, Andrey Zinin faced Kamil Khamidullin, while Nikita Belioglov faced Semyon Vasilyev. In the decisive run, Belioglov and Khamidullin met, where the BMW E36 driver proved faster and more precise, ending the season with a victory at the home stage.

Thus, the main awards of the final weekend were shared by different drivers. The winner of the third stage was Nikita Belioglov, while the champion of the 2026 season of the regional league “URAL” was Maxim Akhtyamov. It is he who will represent the regional league in the final stage of the Yuka Drive Gymkhana PRO series. For the Chelyabinsk driver, this will be his second appearance in the PRO series after his start at the stage in Kazan.

Stage results

• 1st place – Nikita Belioglov 2nd place – Kamil Khamidullin 3rd place – Andrey Zinin

Season results

• 1st place – Maxim Akhtyamov – 619 points 2nd place – Nikita Belioglov – 562 points 3rd place – Kamil Khamidullin – 379 points

A separate award for “Best Livery of the Stage” was given to Maxim Lukoshenko in a Nissan Silvia S13.

The regional league “URAL” has completed its season, but the Yuka Drive Gymkhana Lite Fortis series calendar continues. Already on August 9, the regional league “VOLGA” in Samara will take over the baton!

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