The 2nd stage of the international “Classic Series” races took place at the Nizhny Novgorod Ring.
On June 27, 2026, Nizhny Novgorod became the epicenter of passion, speed, and nostalgia: the second round of the International Circuit Racing Series for Historic Cars “Classic Series” took place at the “Nizhny Novgorod Ring” (NRing) circuit. The iconic track, which for some drivers is home turf and for others an unpredictable challenge, once again proved that in motorsport there are no trifles, and any detail can decide the outcome of the battle.
An iconic track and season intrigue
The “Nizhny Novgorod Ring” is a place where experience meets ambition. For series veterans, this track is familiar down to the last corner, and it was precisely their knowledge of the nuances that could have been their trump card. But motorsport loves surprises: sometimes the boldness and unconventional approach of newcomers prove stronger than polished technique. And this round provided plenty of food for discussion – the tension was felt in literally every lap.
After a bright season opener in Smolensk, the fight for supremacy reached a new level. The drivers who had cemented their lead in May sought to hold their positions, while those who had failed to shine in the first round got a chance to make up ground. And judging by the intensity of emotions, no one was going to yield without a fight.
Prominent names and unexpected results
The geography of participants was impressive: Moscow and St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Nizhnekamsk, Chita and Oryol, as well as drivers from the Moscow, Tver, Leningrad, and Ryazan regions, and even from the Republic of Belarus.
The guard of legends of Russian motorsport gave the youngsters a run for their money, with experienced racers including Masters of Sport Igor Agayev, Igor Tashayev, Andrey Artyushin, Andrey Ponomaryov, Andrey Tsygankov, Oleg Chebotaryov, as well as the titled Vladimir Cherevan and the charismatic Vadim Antipov.
But special attention was focused on young talents: 14-year-old Zlata Sidorenko, 15-year-old Maxim Chmil, 16-year-old Artyom Yagodka, 17-year-old Ivan Bozhedomov, and 18-year-old Lev Introligator – these names are already being heard in the paddock, and their performances promise to make history.
The round turned out to be tough, as real drama unfolded even in the practice sessions: several burned-out engines and gearboxes, transmission problems, and a host of other breakdowns that drastically changed positions in the final standings. The Nizhny Novgorod Ring tested literally everyone’s mettle.
Experienced drivers battled young contenders, and every lap could reshuffle the balance of power. In the classes where Zhigulis, Volgas, foreign cars of various years, and sports prototypes met, spectators saw how machinery from different eras proved its right to stand on the podium.
Diversity of classes – diversity of emotions
The round’s program was impressive in scale: dozens of cars, each with its own story, converged on one track. As part of the RAF Cup in circuit racing, races were held in classes A2-1300, A2/1-1300, A2/1-1600, A5, A2/1-2500 – from compact classic cars to powerful Volgas.
The support races proved no less thrilling: Touring Classic 80 and 90, Line 2000, Tourism 1600, Open Class and Open Light, as well as CN sports prototypes – Mitjet 1300 and ShortCut. Each class is a separate story, its own driving style, and its own heroes of the day.
The round gained special significance from being held jointly with the friendly Championship and Cup of the Republic of Belarus – yet another proof that the love for classic cars and speed unites people.
Support and partnership: the power of community
The event was held with the support of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF), and the title partner was the global tire manufacturer YOKOHAMA. An important role in the organization was played by the 2026 season partners – “Zemsky Bank,” TSS Group, and Ilya Kamensky’s School of Extreme Sport Driving.
The Series’ information partners included leading media: the “Auto Plus” TV channel, the “MOTORCITY” portal, the “Ridus” online newspaper, KOLESA.RU and KARS.RU publications, as well as Maria Melnikova’s Telegram channel “First Place – Russia.” Thanks to their work, thousands of motorsport fans will see the emotions and footage of this day.
RAF Cup race results
A2/1 1600
- Sidorenko Zlata VAZ-2101 No. 241
- Gerasimov Daniil VAZ-2101 No. 78
- Gorin Ilya VAZ-2101 No. 9
A2 1300
- Chikunov Sergey VAZ-21013 No. 30
- Konkov Valentin VAZ-2107 No. 24
- Tashayev Igor VAZ-2101 No. 2
A2/1 2500
- Tolokonnikov Ruslan GAZ-2410 No. 50
- Iksanov Shamil GAZ-2410 No. 79
- Tenyshev Irek GAZ-2410 No. 966
A5
- Cherevan Vladimir VAZ-21013 No. 17
- Laukart Taras VAZ-21011 No. 33
- Semenov Gleb VAZ-2101 No. 80
Traditional competition results:
Open Class light
- Skomorokhov Roman Toyota Corolla Levin No. 173
- Gulyaev Ilya Toyota Corolla Levin No. 97
Open Class
- Koshelev Andrey Seat Leon Cupra TCR No. 88
- Brattsev Denis Seat Leon MK2 No. 8
- Bozhedomov Ivan Audi A-1 No. 15
Tourism 1600
- Cherevan Vladimir Peugeot 207 No. 17
- Sheklachev Evgeny Kia Rio No. 49
- Belkov Alexander Kia Rio No. 105
Line 2000
- Ponomaryov Andrey Honda Civic No. 25
- Tyurin Mikhail Honda Civic No. 18
- Kashin Ilya Opel Astra No. 1
Touring Classic 80
- Trushin Evgeny BMW 320 No. 14
- Romanov Georgy Toyota Corolla No. 86
- Kachura Denis BMW 320i No. 6
Touring Classic 90
- Chikunov Sergey Mercedes-Benz E-190 No. 30
- Yagodka Artyom BMW E36 No. 27
Sports Prototype CN
- Viktorov Artyom 527 ShortCut No. 8
- Gerasimov Ivan 527 ShortCut 1
- Zeylikman Kirill 527 ShortCut 22
Team standings
- RRG
- LEMARC
What’s next?
The next round will take place on July 25 at the Moscow Raceway circuit near Volokolamsk in the Moscow region, and in the meantime, fans have time to discuss the highlights of the past day, review photos and videos, and recharge their energy before the new races. By the way, a large retro festival and retro exhibition will be organized as part of the Moscow round.
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