Russian Drift Series Embarks on Historic Tour to Krasnoyarsk for Grand Prix Weekend

In August, the «Krasnoe Koltso» racetrack will host a round of the Grand Prix of the Russian Drift Series (RDS) and, for the first time in history, the weekend of the RDS Open Championship.

The battle for the titles in Russia’s main drifting championship is nearing its climax. The fifth stage of the RDS GP will take place on August 9-10 in Krasnoyarsk at the «Krasnoe Koltso» circuit, which will play a critical role in identifying the favorites ahead of the final sprint for the championship.

This Siberian racetrack can rightfully be considered the birthplace of Russian drifting. Drivers are consistently eager to compete at «Krasnoe Koltso,» while fans actively support them throughout the weekend. The section evaluated for the RDS GP is not the fastest, but it is highly technical, meaning the athletes’ skills will be pivotal throughout the Krasnoyarsk stage.

Local heroes Damir Idiatulin and Evgeny Losev from the Fresh Racing team will be among the clear favorites for the upcoming RDS Grand Prix weekend. At the last event held in Moscow, these drivers secured victories for their team in qualifying, as well as in individual and team standings; they are sure to be front-runners on their home circuit.

For the past three seasons, Damir Idiatulin has consistently reached the podium in Krasnoyarsk, often advancing to the finals and even claiming a qualification victory at «Krasnoe Koltso.» In 2024, Idiatulin finished second at the Siberian stage, while in 2023, he triumphed in a dramatic intra-team rivalry against Evgeny Losev, marked by numerous technical incidents and the outstanding efforts of the Fresh Racing mechanics.

The attention of the spectators will also be on top athletes not only from Russia but from around the world, such as Arkadiy Tsaregradtsev and Georgiy Chivchyan. Although they have yet to secure victories in the 2025 season, they have every chance to do so on their home track in Krasnoyarsk, where their drifting careers began. Leaders of «LECAR Odridimy Motorsports» and Takayama Forward Auto are eager to demonstrate their capabilities to fans and competitors alike. For both drivers, the stage at «Krasnoe Koltso» will present an excellent opportunity to return to winning form.

Anton Kozlov, the runner-up of the 2023 season from Carville Racing, and the reigning RDS GP champion Artyom Shabanov from TimeUp will arrive in Siberia as the leaders in the individual standings. The drivers atop the tournament table are separated by just 15 points. Given that neither managed to place in the TOP-16 at the previous stage at ADM Raceway in Moscow, anything can happen in Krasnoyarsk.

In this situation, the nearest challengers in the championship race—Damir Idiatulin, Arkadiy Tsaregradtsev, and Evgeny Losev—could take advantage of their rivals’ missteps, as they know «Krasnoe Koltso» like the back of their hand. Thus, the Siberian stage of the Grand Prix of the Russian Drift Series could significantly impact the standings and the dynamics of the championship race.

Several drivers—Pyotr Borodin (Takayama Forward Auto), Kirill Matskevich (TimeUp), Ivan Palmin and Artyom Leitiz (both Carville Racing), Daniil Vorobyev (LUKOIL Racing Drift Team), Arthur Zelyony (Star Për Stars Aimol), Dmitry Shcherbina («Avtoban»), Anatoly Kizin (VSTeam), and Kirill Matskevich (TimeUp)—will be making their debut at «Krasnoe Koltso» as part of the RDS GP series. Their performance on this legendary track will be of interest to both the drivers themselves and their fans.

Meanwhile, other athletes—Leonid Schneider and Maxim Grossman (both TimeUp), Dmitry Yermokhin («Avtoban»), Daniil Skorobogatov (LUKOIL Racing Drift Team), and Evgeny Spirid (VSTeam)—are already familiar with the Siberian track and might deliver some exciting surprises at the upcoming RDS GP stage.

**Schedule for the 5th round of RDS GP 2025 at «Krasnoe Koltso» (local time*):**

*August 9, Saturday*
09:30-14:10 — Qualification
14:30-15:30 — Official opening ceremony and autograph session
16:00-18:45 — TOP-32 pair drifting

*August 10, Sunday*
11:15-12:15 — Drivers’ parade and autograph session
12:40-14:10 — TOP-16 pair drifting
15:10-17:20 — TOP-8 / TOP-4 / finals pair drifting
17:40 — Award ceremony
*Note: The time difference between Krasnoyarsk and Moscow is +4 hours.*

Fans can follow the events on the racetrack both from the stands at the «Krasnoe Koltso» autodrome and via live streaming on the RDS TV platform—qualifying rounds will be available for free after registration, while pair drifts will require a subscription.