The annual festival draws over 10,000 visitors eager to explore the world of car culture and motorsport. This year, what surprised the organizers most became a topic of conversation on site.
The editors of Behind the Wheel produced an on site report.
Exhibition of tuned cars
A dedicated room at TSUNAMI PICNIC showcased tuned cars with more than 250 projects on display. Many of these machines were original creations rather than mere cosmetic modifications. They represented real one off builds rather than stock options.
Visitors did not just view the exhibits; they participated in voting for the best tuning project. The winner turned out to be a Toyota GT86 tuned in the Clean Look style, a German-origin design focused on stripping away extraneous details to reveal the car’s pure form. The owner received a certificate for 50,000 bonuses toward fuel purchases from G-Motive.
During the summer, G Motive supported a range of races, fueling the Silk Way Rally, the Russian Circuit Racing Series, and the endurance race VTB REC Igora Motive fourh. Drift racing was also a highlight, with GDriver 100 fuel powering the drift cars throughout the festival. The high octane gasoline performed exceptionally under maximum load.
Let there be a show!
Attention naturally centered on the best stunt drivers and drift specialists in the country. The event featured BY Motorsport in combat vehicles, Arkady Tsaregradtsev with a powerful project that demonstrated its strength in demonstration races, and Nikita Shikov with the renowned Toyota Supra A90 from Japan.
Another centerpiece was the drift taxi. Long lines formed as attendees waited their turn to ride along and experience the thrill up close, turning spectators into participants for a moment.
The environmental message also took the stage. Teams participating in TSUNAMI PICNIC donated about half a ton of worn tires for recycling in support of the Green is the New Black initiative from the Gazprom Neft gas station network and NPO EcoTireSoyuz. The tires were sent to the Premio Crumb plant in the Leningrad region to be processed, and the resulting rubber crumb would be used to create safe surfaces for sports fields.
A special zone greeted guests with a trendy orange food truck where visitors could refuel and continue enjoying the festival’s packed program. Juicy burgers, G-Drive Cola, and coffee kept attendees energized as music filled the air. The DJ lineup included SLOW, PASH BRONX, and NICK BROWN, and the tunes matched the festival’s energetic mood. The overall vibe emphasized adrenaline, speed, and shared excitement.
Vivid memories
Memorable moments were accessible to all. Attendees could take photos with RDS stars, snap shots near the G-Motive vehicle, and even obtain autographs from notable figures in international motorsport. Conversation with celebrated pilots and champions added a personal touch to the festival experience.
The tsunami energy spread beyond the venue as the city by the Neva felt its impact. TSUNAMI PICNIC 2023 left a tangible mark, and anticipation grew for the next wave of this dynamic event.