Maiden victory for Ivan Lukashevich at NRing

Lukoil Racing’s young recruit Ivan Lukashevich claimed his maiden victory in TCR Russia dominating the second race at Nizhniy Novgorod’s NRing.
Lukashevich’s SEAT León DSG started well from second on the reverse grid ahead of pole sitter Lev Tolkachev in the RUMOS-AMG SEAT. The latter moved to the left and forced Roman Golikov’s Volkswagen Golf GTI onto the grass. Golikov lost control and crossed the track, forcing Irek Minnakhmetov’s Audi RS3 LMS onto the gravel trap. Both drivers were able to rejoin.
Lukashevich benefited from the commotion and created a small gap from Tolkachev, while behind them there was a furious battle for third that involved the LADA Vesta cars of Vladimir Sheshenin and Kirill Ladygin and the Audi cars of Klim Gavrilov, Dmitri Bragin and Minnakhmetov.
Another bunch of drivers was fighting for the eighth position: Grigoriy Burlutskiy (SEAT), Mikhail Grachev (LADA), Anton Badoev (Cupra), Golikov (VW) and Aleksey Dudukalo (Audi).
Both groups delivered thrilling fights with plenty of overtaking manoeuvres and contacts. Grachev advanced steadily, clocked the race’s fastest lap and eventually climbed to fifth, sandwiched by his LADA Sport teammates Sheshenin and Ladygin. Gavrilov moved to third on lap 8 and closed in on Tolkachev, but did not find a way to pass him. Bragin had to settle in seventh, followed by Minnakhmetov and Burlutskiy. Dudukalo dropped out of the points after pitting twice with a flat front tyre.
The fight for the title is wide open: Bragin leads with 87 points from Ladygin (82) and Lukashevich (80); Gavrilov and Sheshenin follow on equal points (77) with Grachev (73) and Tolkachev (70) immediately behind them.
TCR Russia will resume at Kazan Ring on 21/22 July.