This Sunday, October 23, the grand finale of the Russian Endurance Challenge-2022 series unfolds at the Sochi Autodrom, spotlighting a 4-hour duel that tests speed, stamina, and team strategy. Spectators will observe five distinct classes come to life: CN Sport Prototype, CN 1.6 Sport Prototype, GT Pro, GT Light, and GT. In GT, a fresh debut is anticipated with the unique Marussia B2 from the NRG MOTORSPORT outfit taking the track as car No. 2, driven by Nikita Nikitin, Mikhail Mikhin and Alexei Krylov. It’s worth noting that the Marussia B1 GT already competes in GT Pro, underscoring a family of performance from the same marque.
The GT Pro championship race remains open, with the overall leaders from Capital Racing Team Mercedes GT3 No. 13, crewed by Denis Remenyako and Mikhail Aleshin, in the frame. However, these top contenders are not taking part in the final, which opens the door for a crowded field. Among the challengers are KTM Racing Team with KTM X-BOW No. 71 piloted by Andrey Goncharov and Andrey Maslennikov; Yadro Motorsport fielding Mercedes GT3 No. 48 with Sergey Stolyarov and Rinat Salikhov; IY Engineering running Marussia B1 GT No. 7, crewed by Vitaly Larionov and Michael Belov; and Spora GT with Porsche GT3 Club No. 23 driven by Alexey Dudukalo and Sergey Titarenko. The roster showcases a blend of formidable machinery and skilled drivers—the kind of lineup that keeps fans buzzing with anticipation.
In the hunt for overall leadership, the CN class includes G-Drive Racing’s elegant Ligier G-Drive 01, managed by the 26 crew and steered by Roman Rusinov and Sergey Afanasiev. Within the CN 1.6 standings, the scene is set for a sharp duel between two fast crews: the top-rated No. 44 crew—Tatiana Dobrynina, Vadim Vereshchagin, Ivan Pugachev, and Alexander Dudarev—and No. 21 crew consisting of Mikhail Loboda and Kirill Kirazov. The battles in CN 1.6 promise a blend of precision, risk, and breakthrough pace across the shorter prototype class.
The most populous GT field welcomes newcomers to Spora GT: Alexander Vartanyan, Stanislav Aksenov and Anton Devyakovich join on a Toyota Supra, carrying No. 41. They renew their challenge alongside the APRTeam, now with Marat Khairov and Oleg Semyonov aboard the BMW M4 No. 98, presented in a nod to classic racing packaging. Chev Team and Shonx Racing, familiar faces from earlier stages, will also be on the circuit, ensuring a diverse and competitive GT mix for the audience to enjoy.
Beyond the main classes, additional storylines light up the event: two Legends-Evo prototypes are debuting at Sochi, while the Mitjet from YAKHNICH DRIVE (No. 81) and the BMW E92 from Classic Car Racing (No. 92) add further variety to the weekend’s spectacle. The clock starts at 2:00 PM Moscow time and the green flag will fall for four hours of racing until 6:00 PM. The event will be broadcast live on Start TV, with additional coverage available in the Rosgonka community on VKontakte. Spectators have free access to the circuit, inviting fans from North America and beyond to witness this high-octane motorsport showcase in person or through the broadcast feed. [Sources: race organizers and team press briefings]
The Moscow stage previously hosted a rainy round, a reminder of racing’s unpredictable nature and a hint of the drama that can unfold when weather shifts and strategy must adapt on the fly. A behind-the-wheel feature, “Behind the Wheel,” is available on RuTube for fans seeking a deeper look at the teams, drivers, and tuning strategies that shape these endurance battles. [Source: race recap and media coverage]