«Hills of Russia»: second day of speed, heat and battle. «GAZ Raid Sport» holds the lead

Ulyanovsk, 19 July 2026. The second racing day of the 'Hills of Russia' baja was truly hard-fought. Two special stages of 150 kilometres each – and not a single chance for a breather. After yesterday's muddy mayhem, today the track finally delivered on speed, but in return it threw up other surprises: heat, slippery black soil, and technical challenges that even some of the favourites couldn't withstand.

For the GAZ Raid Sport team, the day was a success, although there were, of course, difficulties. The crew of Alexey Khlebov and Evgeny Pavlov in the GAZelle NEXT not only held onto the lead in the 'R' class but also strengthened it, despite a power steering failure on the second lap. Alexander Semyonov and Dmitry Okhotnikov in the Sobol NN continue to get to grips with the new vehicle in tough conditions, while the team's truck crews are maintaining a steady pace.

Alexey Khlebov: 'I drove on sheer willpower'

The crew of Khlebov/Pavlov finished the second stage with the best time in the 'R' class, strengthening their lead in the standings and moving into the top three overall. But this result did not come easily for them.

Alexander Semyonov: Adventures on the route

The new Sobol NN continues to gain momentum. Alexander Semyonov and Dmitry Okhotnikov finished the second day of competition in second place in the T2 class, despite issues with overheating and a tricky tyre choice.

Vyacheslav Subbotin: 'No losses – that's the main thing'

The team's sporting director summed up the day, noting the speed of the track, the tactical decisions, and, of course, the dramatic moments witnessed by the crews.

Overall picture: KAMAZ-master and MAZ battle it out, drama on the track

A fierce battle unfolded on SS2 and SS3 between the crews of KAMAZ-master and MAZ-SPORTauto. After two special stages, the crew of Sergey Vyazovich in the MAZ 6440RR seized the overall lead, ahead of Eduard Nikolaev in the KAMAZ Extreme Plus. The top three trucks were rounded out by Dmitry Sotnikov in the KAMAZ-435091. Among the cars, Alexey Cherkesov holds the fastest time after two days of racing, with Andrey Novikov close behind. Dmitry Cherkesov, however, had a bit of bad luck and has slipped back into the middle of the standings.

The second day was not without dramatic events: a fire in the Niva of the Voronov/Enikeev crew on SS2, and a rolled Ural – these episodes became the main talking points in the bivouac. However, all crews in trouble received help from their colleagues, and the KSK decided to grant time compensation to the crews who stopped to assist. The crew of Alexander Mironenko from St. Petersburg also retired. In total, 27 out of the 30 crews in the Russian Championship remain in the fight.

On Monday, 20 July, a new challenge awaits the crews – the third stage, including SS4 and SS5 with a total length of over 250 km. The GAZ Raid Sport team approaches it without serious losses, ready for new speeds and adventures.

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