Decisive stage in the title race – the RDS Grand Prix champion could be determined early in Krasnoyarsk
The fifth round of the Russian Drift Series Grand Prix will take place on August 1 and 2 at the Siberian racing circuit “Krasnoye Koltso”. In Krasnoyarsk, Irishman Tommy Kaili from the Fresh Racing team could clinch the championship title early. At “Krasnoye Koltso”, Ivan Nikulin will return to RDS GP, joining the “Systeme Electric Oderzhimye Motorsport” team.
The fifth round of the Russian Drift Series Grand Prix (RDS GP) will be held on August 1 and 2 in Krasnoyarsk at the legendary circuit racing track “Krasnoye Koltso”. This circuit, iconic for Russian drifting and where the discipline developed in Russia, could name a new champion in 2026. Irish legionnaire Tommy Kaili, representing the Fresh Racing team, has a chance to secure the title early.
The circuit in the heart of Siberia does not have the fastest, but an extremely technical configuration of the judged section, which is difficult to master even for experienced drivers, let alone a foreign debutant. Adaptation will be required under conditions of the opponents’ moral superiority, as local fans actively support the Siberians. But Tommy Kaili has already proven more than once that he can block out external distractions and deliver brilliant runs.
Championship mathematics
At an RDS GP round, each driver can score a maximum of 272 points by winning both qualifying and the pair battles. Before the start of the weekend in Krasnoyarsk, Kaili’s lead over his closest pursuer, Anton Kozlov (Carville Racing), is 288 points, 292 points ahead of Sergei Kuznetsov (Fresh Racing) who sits third in the standings, and 315 points ahead of Arkady Tsaregradtsev (“Systeme Electric Oderzhimye Motorsport”) in fourth place.
If Tommy finishes ahead of or performs similarly to Kozlov, Kuznetsov, and Tsaregradtsev, the Irishman will become unreachable on points and secure the championship early. If Kaili is eliminated earlier than this trio in Krasnoyarsk, the fate of the title in the individual standings will be decided at the final round in Moscow. The situation for the Fresh Racing athlete is not easy, but quite manageable. Although drifting is interesting precisely because making any predictions is pointless – the situation on track can instantly change the entire balance of power.
Siberians fighting for the podium
Local heroes will be contenders for victory and at least podium places at “Krasnoye Koltso”. First and foremost, last year’s finalists of the RDS GP round from Takayama Forward Auto – Georgy Chivchyan and Timofey Dobrovolsky, who in 2025 achieved his first victory in RDS GP pair battles precisely in Krasnoyarsk.
Drivers who grew up on this track and have won the Siberian RDS GP round multiple times will also compete for the podium: Fresh Racing representative Damir Idiyatulin and “Systeme Electric Oderzhimye Motorsport” leader Arkady Tsaregradtsev. High hopes are placed on Anton Kozlov, who has managed to build good pace this season, and Sergei Kuznetsov, who has been transformed since moving to Fresh Racing.
The return of Ivan Nikulin
A major headline of the Krasnoyarsk round will be the return of Ivan Nikulin to the Russian Drift Series Grand Prix. One of the brightest representatives of the Siberian drift school, who rose from regional competitions to the country’s top tournament, last competed in RDS GP in 2022.
In the 2026 season, the driver from Barnaul will reunite with his longtime teammate Arkady Tsaregradtsev in the “Systeme Electric Oderzhimye Motorsport” lineup, replacing Evgeny Losev, who left the team after the first two rounds. At “Krasnoye Koltso”, Ivan Nikulin will drive the iconic Toyota Mark II (JZX100).
Via wild card, the current winner of the RDS Open Championship round, Sergei Korneev, will take part in the fifth round of the RDS Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk. The bronze medalist of the RDS Open PRO season-2025, driving a Toyota Supra A80, will arrive at “Krasnoye Koltso” after a victory at the “concrete Colosseum” of the “Igora Drive” circuit.
Juniors conquer Siberia
In 2026, the Russian Drift Series, together with the Aimol Junior young motorsport talent development program, is holding a series of summer training camps (UTC) for juniors. After competing at circuits in the European part of Russia, the young athletes will head on a Siberian tour.
At “Krasnoye Koltso” as part of the UTC, 12-year-old Arseny Tsaregradtsev will return to the track in a Toyota Altezza, having won the UTC rounds at “Igora Drive”, “Nizhegorodskoye Koltso”, and ADM Raceway in dominant style. But now the son of two-time RDS GP champion Arkady Tsaregradtsev will face his most serious rival – Roman Lovkis in a Toyota Mark II (JZX100) will compete in Krasnoyarsk. The driver has already beaten both Arseny and Arkady Tsaregradtsev in Krasnoyarsk, albeit in winter during the STAR PЁR STARS AIMOL DRIFT CUP training camps in February 2026. Now Lovkis will take on the younger Tsaregradtsev in summer battles.
RDS GP 2026 judging panel
In the 2026 season, the qualifying and pair battles of RDS Grand Prix drivers are judged by experienced officials Anton Novikov, Andrei Pauli, and Dmitry Ermokhin. The fourth judge, responsible for replay analysis, changes from round to round to ensure an effective process of training new judging personnel.
Schedule of the 5th round of the RDS Grand Prix 2026 at “Krasnoye Koltso” (local time)*
August 1, Saturday
- 9:30 – practice sessions
- 11:15 – qualifying
- 16:15 – autograph session on track
- 17:15 – pair practice
August 2, Sunday
- 9:00 – practice sessions
- 10:10 – TOP-32 pair battles
- 12:30 – drivers’ parade and autograph session on track
- 14:00 – TOP-16 / TOP-8 / TOP-4 / final pair battles
- 17:30 – awards ceremony
* The time difference between Krasnoyarsk and Moscow is +4 hours.
You can follow the action on track both from the stands of the “Krasnoye Koltso” circuit and live on the RDS TV platform – qualifying sessions can be watched for free after registration, while pair battles will be available via subscription.
About the “Krasnoye Koltso” circuit
KGT “Krasnoye Koltso” is a true talent forge in Russian drifting. For over 15 years, it has hosted drift competitions, including the country’s main championship RDS GP, and also serves as an arena for winter tournaments in this discipline. The track is well known not only as a venue for drifting and drag racing. It has hosted circuit racing competitions of various levels – from local to nationwide.
RDS GP statistics at “Krasnoye Koltso”:
2023
- Qualifying: Charles Ng (95 points)
- Top-3 pair battles: Damir Idiyatulin (winner), Evgeny Losev, Charles Ng
2024
- Qualifying: Georgy Chivchyan (99 points)
- Top-3 pair battles: Arkady Tsaregradtsev (winner), Damir Idiyatulin, Maxim Grossman
2025
- Qualifying: Maxim Grossman (97.5 points)
- Top-3 pair battles: Timofey Dobrovolsky (winner), Georgy Chivchyan, Arkady Tsaregradtsev
