The season's fastest course decided the champion: the final of the URAL regional gymkhana league

When the organisers of the final round of the URAL regional league in the Yuka Drive Gymkhana Lite Fortis series promised the fastest configuration of the season, the intrigue was not solely about the fight for the championship title. Before the start, the series' sporting director Vasily Shultz spoke of a completely new layout featuring a run through the pit lane right up against the concrete blocks – an element where the margin for error was set to be particularly unforgiving. In practice, the course fully lived up to expectations.

Already in qualifying it became clear that the high-speed configuration demanded maximum precision from the drivers. The fastest time was set by Chelyabinsk's Maxim Akhtyamov in a Toyota Corolla – 2:22.859. Nikita Belioglov in a BMW E36 was just over two seconds adrift, and that result proved sufficient for Akhtyamov to clinch the URAL regional league championship title before the paired runs had even begun.

However, Sunday's runs demonstrated that qualifying and the fight for round victory are two very different matters. Akhtyamov himself unexpectedly ended his campaign in the TOP-16 due to a technical fault with his car, while the new course configuration continued to claim its 'victims'. The organisers' forecast proved accurate: the concrete blocks showed no mercy for mistakes. In the TOP-8, contact with the barrier brought Igor Sakharov's bid for round victory to an abrupt end.

With the season leader eliminated, the fight for victory was wide open. In the semi-finals, Andrey Zinin faced Kamil Khamidullin, while Nikita Belioglov took on Semyon Vasilyev. The decisive run saw Belioglov and Khamidullin go head-to-head, where the BMW E36 driver proved faster and more precise, rounding off the season with victory on home soil.

Thus, the main honours of the final weekend were shared between different drivers. Nikita Belioglov claimed victory in the third round, while Maxim Akhtyamov was crowned champion of the 2026 URAL regional league season. It is he who will represent the regional league in the final round of the Yuka Drive Gymkhana PRO series. For the Chelyabinsk driver, this will be his second appearance in the PRO series following his start at the Kazan round.

Round 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 'Best Livery of the Round' award went to Maxim Lukoshenko in a Nissan Silvia S13.

The URAL regional league has concluded its season, but the Yuka Drive Gymkhana Lite Fortis series calendar continues. On 9 August, the VOLGA regional league will take up the baton in Samara!

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