Artyom Shabanov became the absolute winner of the RDS GP stage at the Nizhny Novgorod Ring

The third stage of the Russian Grand Prix Drift of the series (RDS GP) in Nizhny Novgorod was dictated by the current champion of the tournament Artyom Shabanov. The leader of the Timeup team, who on the Nizhny Novgorod Ring on Saturday for the first time in his career won the RDS GP qualification, did not leave any chance to his rivals in paired races. The victory at the stage became the second for the athlete in the season, but the leadership in the personal standings did not help to return.

The path to victory for Artyom was not easy, since at each stage of paired races he was opposed by very serious rivals. In the top 16, the Timeup pilot was waiting for the most titled participant in the Russian drift of the series-George Chivchyan, but the leader of Takayama Forward Auto could not contrast his opponent and yielded in this duel. In the top 8, Shabanov met Damir Idiyatulin (Fresh Racing), with whom they fought in the final last year in Nizhny Novgorod, but this time the victory was behind Artyom. In the semifinals, the Muscovite was not easily broken by the resistance of Anton Racing, and in the decisive battle of the day in a dense struggle he was able to wrest the victory from Arkady Tsaregradsev from Lecar Obsessed Motorsport.

“Probably, throughout my career in RDS GP, all the most important rivals met me at this stage – both George Chivchyan, Damir Idiyatulin, Anton Kozlov, and Arkady Tsaregraders. Before the final race, small technical problems with the car arose, but the mechanics know the car perfectly, they worked clearly, ”commented his triumph Artyom Shabanov.

Artyom Shabanov, Arkady Tsaregraders, Anton Kozlov / Photo: © Russian drift series

Arkady Tsaregraders on the way to the final consistently overcame the resistance of Ilya Drift Team, Denis Migaly, Alexei Kozlov and Andrei Astapov (Lukoil Racing Drift Team). All the chances were the first victory in the season, but in the end, the Tsaregraders took second place. Anton Kozlov supplemented the prize podium at the Nizhny Novgorod Ring. The leader of the Carville Racing team became the only pilot who, in 2025, graduated from three of three stages among the winners.

RDS GP 2025. 3rd stage. “Nizhny Novgorod Ring.” Personal standings. TOP-3:

• 1. Artyom Shabanov (Timeup) – 272 points
• 2. Arkady Tsaregraders (Lecar Obsessed Motorsport) – 188 points
• 3. Anton Kozlov (Carville Racing) – 151 points

RDS GP 2025. 3rd stage. “Nizhny Novgorod Ring.” The command sett. TOP-3:

• 1. Timeup – 321 points
• 2. “Lecar Obsessed Motorsport” – 225 points
• 3. Lukoil Racing Drift Team – 201 point

“As always, a powerful stage! Several times I caught myself thinking when I watched the races that no one in the world could go as our guys were traveling today. This is even beyond the understanding of opportunities: at high speed literally centimeters from each other. I am proud that we managed to build joint efforts-already without any exaggeration, without boasting-really the best championship in the world, ”said Dmitry Dobrovolsky, director of the Russian drift of the series.

Due to its stability, which in 2023 almost led Anton Kozlov to the championship, the Carville Racing pilot retains leadership in the personal standings after three stages of 2025. However, the advantage is purely symbolic: Artyom Shabanov inferior to Kozlov only ten points. In the team standings in the leaders, Timeup was fixed, which with a serious margin is ahead of Carville Racing.

The RDS GP participants will meet next time in a month on July 19–20 at the ADM Raceway Autodrome in Moscow. But the fans of the drift will not have to be waited in waiting – on July 12, the first RDS Fest Dront festival in the history of the Moscove Raceway Autodrom will be held.