The Silk Way rally, renowned as one of the world’s toughest endurance marathons, concluded in Moscow. Astrakhan’s route threaded through the North Caucasus and comprised ten grueling stages, already described by competitors as among the most demanding in the event’s history. Technical support across all extreme domains was delivered by a mobile laboratory and specialists from Gazpromneft-Lubricants, turning the rally into a live testing ground for G-Energy engine and transmission oils.
The ten-day race unfolded over diverse landscapes, from shifting dunes to uneven soils and jagged rock, with the infamous fesh fesh sand adding another layer of challenge. On special stages, the speed of the cars climbed to 140 kilometers per hour, while participants faced extreme heat that pushed air temperatures to fifty degrees Celsius. The event proved a stern test for all categories, from motorcycles to heavy trucks, demanding peak performance from both machines and crews.
Throughout the rally, G-Energy experts offered hands-on technical guidance to the participating teams. Diagnostic analyses of engines and transmissions were carried out using a mobile laboratory equipped with high-precision instruments and specialized software. By examining oil samples for impurity balance and composition, smart technologies produced insights into the condition of components and lubricant blends. A digital service anchored in artificial intelligence projected future vehicle performance, enabling teams to adjust strategies and ready vehicles for upcoming stages.
In total, more than one hundred lubricant studies were performed. The findings were crucial in detecting dust intrusion and water ingress, issues that could later cause serious engine failures or damage to key racing components if left unaddressed.
Stanislav Doroshenko, head of the G-Energy mobile laboratory expert group, commented on the experience: “In such demanding races, engines and gearboxes operate under heavy loads. The oil samples and analyses we performed for every crew allowed mechanics to make rapid decisions about oil changes or part replacements. Our approach is discreet, much like medical diagnostics, but the research helped uncover hidden faults in some cylinder-piston assemblies and, in another case, in the transmission, even when no obvious faults were detectable by sounds or handling.”
Beyond diagnostics, G-Energy specialists selected specialized oils for the MAZ-SPORTavto team, which finished among the top three in the truck category, as well as for Anastasia Nifontova’s crew, recognized for delivering the best results across four of the most challenging stages (attribution: G-Energy field team insights).
Sergey Vyazovich, captain of the MAZ-SPORTavto squad and a Dakar rally winner, reflected on the race’s intensity: “We have competed in dozens of rallies, but these stages were outstandingly tough. The heat tested every component—the cabin reached extreme warmth, and the equipment endured. The engine stalled at a ford during the ninth section in Volgograd, yet G-Energy lubricants performed reliably under pressure, and we’re pleased to share these strong results with dependable partners.”
Nifontova’s crew participated in validating G-Energy motor oils, and their extreme testing experience is already guiding new product formulations that will benefit not only racers but all drivers who demand high-performance lubrication in harsh conditions (attribution: G-Energy test program).
Anastasia Nifontova, an international master of motorsport and two-time World Cup cross-country rally winner, recalled the early days as a period of growth: “The initial days were surprising and demanding for the team, and it felt like the technology was not keeping pace with our speed and ambitions. Yet persistence paid off. Our team emerged as the most productive in terms of victories, taking four special stages. The daily guidance from the mobile G-Energy laboratory—constant engine monitoring and strategic maintenance recommendations—proved essential.”