Round 2 of the Russian Rally-Raid Championship, the “Hills of Russia”. Baja, will take place from July 17 to 21 across two Russian regions: the Ulyanovsk and Samara regions.
Official test runs will be held for competitors on July 17. Crews will have the opportunity to perform final vehicle checks and fine-tune their race trucks to suit the route's characteristics. The organizers have prepared a challenging course featuring severe bumps that will put the vehicles' suspension systems to the test.
The official race start will take place on July 18 at 3:00 PM local time, following the completion of mandatory administrative and technical inspections. The opening ceremony will be held at Sobornaya Square in Ulyanovsk. An autograph session featuring the pilots is scheduled as part of the event. On opening day, residents and visitors will have access to the race bivouac located in the city center. Fans will be able to immerse themselves in the world of motorsport, watch the drivers prepare for the stage, interact with the crews, and take memorable photos.
Immediately following the opening ceremony, competitors will head to the start of the first speed section—spanning approximately 18 km—which will determine the starting order for the next day of racing.
On July 19, the off-road terrain of the Ulyanovsk region will host the racers across two special stages totaling 298 km. First, the crews will tackle winding field tracks typical of the region, featuring ravines, elevation changes, and challenging navigation. The final part of the stage will be a high-speed run along tree lines, allowing drivers to fully unleash the capabilities of their racing machines.
On July 21, after completing a short liaison section, the race convoy will set out on the final 220-kilometer stage. Drivers will face a dramatic change in terrain here, encountering black soil and chalk roads that remain slippery even in dry weather. Crews will need to exercise particular caution on this stretch. The organizers promise highly scenic spectator zones, allowing motorsport fans to witness the full beauty of rally-raid racing.
The race will conclude in the Samara Region. Race headquarters will be located at the "Garage" hotel complex, which will also host the awards ceremony for the winners.
Crews of the KAMAZ-master team at Baja "Hills of Russia"
1. Nikolaev E. – pilot, Yakovlev E. – co-pilot, Glukhov V. – mechanic
2. Sotnikov D. – pilot, Krenev S. – co-pilot, Akhmetzyanov I. – mechanic
3. Karimov B. – pilot, Nikitin D. – co-pilot, Davletshin I. – mechanic
4. Akhmedov A. – pilot, Malkov I. – co-pilot, Galimov I. – mechanic
5. Avdeev D. – pilot, Korolev Yu. – navigator, Islamgulov T. – mechanic
