Baikal Mile 2023: Ice Speed Festival on Lake Baikal
The official update confirms that the fifth Baikal Mile International Speed Festival will run on the ice of Lake Baikal from March 7 to March 11, 2023. About seventy racing machines are expected, with cars from GAZ, UAZ, and Volgabas joining the frozen arena as a high-octane showcase. The lineup aims to blend a diverse set of machines and drivers, drawing motorsport fans from Canada, the United States, and Europe who regard Baikal Mile as a benchmark ice racing event.
Powered by the unique conditions of Baikal ice, competitors will push performance across four dedicated ice tracks along with a drag strip designed for cars, motorcycles, and the Lada Formula category. This setup creates a broad spectrum of skills on display, from precise control on short icy straights to explosive accelerations that test torque, traction, and aerodynamics under harsh, cold conditions. Canadian and American audiences will witness how teams tune for grip and stability on low-friction surfaces, a format noticeably different from traditional tarmac racing.
A key feature is AvtoVAZ’s involvement, showcasing sports innovations aligned with modern competition standards. Among the notable entrants are Lada Sport Rosneft pilots Vladimir Sheshenin and Kirill Ladygin, seasoned competitors with extensive rally raid experience from the GAZ Reid Sport camp. Also anticipated is racer Sergey Kabargin, known for piloting the Flanker F drift car last year and for contributing to the event’s reputation for bold, high-speed drifting on ice. Their performances illustrate the blend of endurance, precision, and fearless driving that Baikal Mile has become known for among international audiences.
The trophy ceremony and awards for Baikal Mile 2023 are planned for April during the Motovesna showcase, where winners will be celebrated alongside a broader display of automotive culture. The festival consistently draws spectators who crave the spectacle of ice racing and machines built to conquer extreme winter conditions. It continues to attract teams eager to test their limits on one of the world’s most iconic frozen tracks. The event serves as a focal point for winter motorsport in the region, offering a platform for manufacturers to demonstrate innovations and for drivers to display skill under challenging ice-speed conditions, with North American observers keen to see how eastern European teams adapt to Baikal’s icy canvas. (AvtoVAZ and associated teams)
Earlier reporting highlighted standout moments from the event, including Vladimir Sheshenin’s triumph at a nearby venue on AvtoVAZ’s training ground. That win highlighted the competitive caliber present at Baikal Mile, reinforcing the festival’s status as a premier winter motorsport occasion that blends Russian engineering with a global appetite for ice racing drama. All of this unfolds within a setting that attracts motorsport fans from the Americas and beyond, signaling Baikal Mile as a yearly anchor for speed enthusiasts who crave the visceral experience of ice racing and the thrill of watching top teams push engineering to the limits, expanding the sport’s international footprint. (Attribution: AvtoVAZ and associated teams)