The opening leg of the national four hour endurance challenge, the Russian Endurance Challenge, will unfold at Moscow Raceway on July 24. The lineup features some of the sport’s most recognized drivers, including Vitaly Petrov, Sergey Sirotkin, Mikhail Aleshin, Viktor Shaitar, Konstantin Tereshchenko, Alexei Dudukalo, and Alexei Basov. Also on the grid is Gabriele Piana, a past winner and podium finisher in the 24 hour endurance classic.
More than twenty crews and nearly fifty pilots are already entered. Each crew consists of two to four members and includes female competitors such as Tatyana Dobrynina, Arina Sukhanova, and Olga Zinchenko. Registrations continue to arrive, so the field is expected to grow with fresh teams and new talents.
Endurance racing demands peak professionalism from the teams and exceptional physical and mental stamina from the drivers. Success hinges on many variables: each driver’s time on track, pit stops, tire changes, weather forecasts, and overall speed. In this format, precise mathematics plays a crucial role, as the fastest car on paper is not always the race winner, says Igor Ermilin, the general organizer of the REC.
Vehicle diversity is a hallmark of the event. The rules allow nearly all Russian track racing cars, with the exception of formulas and open wheel configurations. The anticipated debut includes two BR03 Russian made sports prototypes from the BR Engineering team and the Marussia GT sports car, alongside a lineup of sports cars, supercars, and prototypes from some of the world’s most renowned manufacturers.
The race runs for a single day, beginning at 6:30 pm and concluding around 10:30 pm. For almost an hour, participants will contest leadership in the dark with headlights blazing. Each crew member is required to drive continuously for at least 45 minutes, with a maximum total of two hours per driver. During the event, teams will exchange drivers, refuel, and swap tires, all while battles for class leadership and the overall title intensify.
Viewers can follow the action on the Start TV channel, through REC social accounts, or via the REC YouTube live stream. Moscow Raceway will also provide free access to the live broadcast, ensuring fans can watch the drama unfold in real time.
Organizers frame the Russian Endurance Series as a continuation of the best traditions from the World Endurance Championship, in which Russia had represented itself at the highest levels up to 2022. Russian teams have consistently reached the podium in WEC and European Le Mans Series events. The 2022 REC calendar includes four stages located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi. In recent highlights, the Niva Legend, prepared by Lada Sport Rosleft, captured multiple stage victories, marking its successful debut on the Silk Road endurance circuit. The race also features broadcasts available on RuTube for wider accessibility.
Throughout the event, teams and drivers rely on precise strategy and endurance mentality to outlast rivals. The Moscow Raceway arena promises a night of relentless competition where endurance really tests skill, nerve, and teamwork—elements that define this demanding sport. The narrative around the race centers on the harmony between driver stamina, strategic pit work, and the reliability of engineering under pressure, all set against the backdrop of a fast flowing, twisty circuit that rewards both planning and grit.
As the night unfolds, fans will witness the suspension of fatigue and the surge of focus as crews push toward the absolute leadership in each class and in the overall standings. This event marks a significant moment in Russian endurance racing, highlighting homegrown talent alongside international competitors and underscoring the country’s enduring passion for speed and precision on the track. The blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars creates a compelling storyline that resonates with fans across North America as well as in Russia, reinforcing the universal appeal of endurance motor racing.
In sum, the Moscow Raceway race is more than a test of speed. It is a test of team coordination, strategy under shifting conditions, and the resilience of drivers who must balance pace with endurance over a grueling four hours. The region’s motorsport community eagerly awaits the results, the unforgettable moments on the night, and the emergence of champions who will carry this contest forward into the coming seasons. It is this fusion of talent, technology, and tenacity that keeps endurance racing alive and thrilling for spectators and participants alike.