Ulyanovsk, July 19, 2026. The second racing day of the "Hills of Russia" baja turned out to be truly fierce. Two special stages of 150 kilometers each – with not a single chance for a break. After yesterday's muddy bacchanalia, the track finally delighted with speed today, but in return presented other surprises: heat, slippery black soil, and technical challenges that even some favorites could not withstand.
For the "GAZ Raid Sport" team, the day was successful, although difficulties, of course, arose. The crew of Alexey Khlebov and Evgeny Pavlov in the "GAZelle NEXT" not only maintained their 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 master the new vehicle in harsh conditions, while the team's truck crews are showing a steady pace.
The crew of Khlebov/Pavlov completed the second stage with the best time in the "R" class, strengthening their lead in the standings and moving into the top three of the Absolute. But this result did not come easily to them.
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 overheating issues and a difficult tire choice.
The team's sports director summed up the day, noting the track's speed, tactical decisions, and, of course, the dramatic moments witnessed by the crews.
A fierce battle unfolded between the crews of "KAMAZ-master" and "MAZ-SPORTavto" on SS-2 and SS-3. Following the two special stages, the crew of Sergey Vyazovich in the MAZ 6440RR took the lead in the absolute standings, 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 lead after two days of racing, with Andrey Novikov close behind. However, Dmitry Cherkesov was a bit unlucky and dropped to the middle of the standings.
The second day was not without dramatic events: a fire in the "Niva" of the Voronov/Enikeev crew on SS-2, a rolled-over "Ural" – these episodes became the main topics of discussion in the bivouac. However, all crews in trouble received help from colleagues, and the KSK made decisions on time compensation for crews who stopped to provide assistance. The St. Petersburg crew of Alexander Mironenko also retired. In total, out of 30 crews in the Russian Championship, 27 remain in the fight.
On Monday, July 20, a new challenge awaits the crews – the third stage, including SS-4 and SS-5 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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