On August 29-30, the ITECO Racing Team’s home racing weekend took place at the NRing circuit. The team was represented simultaneously in three classes — SMP Formula 4, Super Production, and GT4. The round brought ITECO victories, podiums, and important points in the fight for championship titles.
The weekend held special significance as the venue: ITECO Racing Team represented Nizhny Novgorod in front of home crowds. Over two race days, fans witnessed a packed program, with the team’s drivers repeatedly climbing the podium.
SMP Formula 4: Three Wins for Pigaev and First Place for the Team
The most productive event for ITECO Racing Team was the fourth round of the Russian SMP Formula 4 Championship. Due to Maksim Orlov’s and Timur Shagaliev’s participation in international competitions, the team’s lineup at NRing changed. Alongside Ivan Pigaev, representatives of ITECO Racing Team’s karting program, Tigran Bunatyan and Sofia Grinevich, took to the start. For both, the round marked their championship debut, with Sofia having sat behind the wheel of a formula car for the first time just a few days before the weekend began.
The main hero of the home round was Ivan Pigaev. On Saturday, the driver from Nizhny Novgorod claimed pole position and won the opening race from first place, leading throughout the entire distance and setting the fastest lap. He finished the second race, run with a reversed grid, in sixth place after a penalty was applied.
On Sunday, Pigaev again posted the fastest qualifying time and converted his second pole into another win. In the round’s final race, Ivan started ninth, fought his way through the pack, and claimed his third victory in four races over the home weekend.
In total, Pigaev came away from the round with two poles, three wins, and two Grand Slams. This strong run of results allowed Ivan to close significantly on the leaders in the drivers’ standings — without deductions, the top three in the championship are now separated by just 17 points.
Ivan Ovsienko also had a productive weekend. In Saturday’s races he finished P10 and P11, while Sunday started off considerably stronger: in the third race he fought his way up to fourth place, falling just short of the podium. In the final race Ivan finished P14 after a 30-second penalty. His best result of the team’s home round was therefore fourth place.
Tigran Bunatyan also made a confident statement. Already in the second race of his first formula round, he finished fourth, just one step from the podium. He closed out the weekend’s final race in sixth position, bringing the team additional points.
For Sofia Grinevich, the home round was above all an opportunity to gain her first full experience in Formula 4. The transition from karting, minimal time to familiarize herself with the new machinery, and four straight Russian Championship races made NRing an important starting point for her formula career.
Across the four races, ITECO Racing Team scored 117 points and won the team classification for the round. In the overall championship standings the battle also remains extremely tight — the team is separated from first place by just three points.
Super Production: A Win for Buyanov and Two Podiums in Two Races
The home round also went well for ITECO Racing Team’s drivers in Super Production.
On Saturday, Timofey Buyanov made an excellent start, moving into the lead already on the first lap and holding first position all the way to the checkered flag. This win was his third at the NRing.
Azat Kalimullin finished the first race in fourth place, while Samvel Iskoyants, despite encountering technical difficulties, reached the finish in sixth.
On Sunday, Buyanov again made a strong start and led for most of the race. However, after the finish a ten-second penalty was added to his result for a violation during the grid formation. In the final classification Timofey finished second and earned important points, bringing him as close as possible to first place in the drivers’ championship.
Another podium for the team came from Samvel Iskoyants, who finished the Sunday race in third place. For Azat Kalimullin, the second race ended already on the first lap following a racing incident with a rival.
In total, the home round in Super Production brought the team a win and two more podium results, while Buyanov’s fight for the championship lead grew even tighter.
GT4: A Podium and Championship Lead Retained
In the GT4 class, the ITECO Racing Team × Team Garis crew of Maxim Turiev and Sergey Grishanov arrived at the home round as championship leaders.
The weekend began with another strong qualifying result: Maxim Turiev claimed his third consecutive pole position.
In the first race, the Toyota Supra #52 found itself in second place after the start, but within a few laps Turiev moved into the lead and was able to build a gap before the mandatory driver change.
After the car was handed over to Sergey Grishanov, the battle gradually intensified, with the decisive moment coming on the final lap. In the second-to-last corner there was contact with a rival, after which the Supra ended up in the gravel. Sergey returned to the track and made it to the finish. After reviewing the incident, the stewards handed the rival a 30-second penalty, as a result of which the ITECO Racing Team × Team Garis crew was classified second.
Sunday’s race was also fought at close quarters throughout. Grishanov drove the first stint, after which Turiev took over the car. Despite a demanding race, the crew brought the Supra home and secured the points they needed.
The main outcome of the home round: Maxim Turiev and Sergey Grishanov retained the championship lead in GT4. After NRing, their advantage stands at seven points.
Home Round Complete — The Battle Continues
The weekend at the NRing was one of the most action-packed of the season for ITECO Racing Team. Over two days, the team’s representatives competed in three classes simultaneously, took victories, climbed the podium, and continued the fight for strong positions in the championships.
The home round was especially productive in SMP Formula 4: three wins for Ivan Pigaev and first place for ITECO Racing Team in the round’s team classification. In Super Production, Timofey Buyanov continued his successful history of performances at NRing, while in GT4 the Turiev-Grishanov crew held on to the top spot in the overall standings.
The next round is already close at hand. ITECO Racing Team’s continued fight for positions in the drivers’ and teams’ standings will resume very soon — on September 11-12 in Grozny, where the next race weekend will take place.
Material provided by ITECO Racing Team / Nelly Boronina
Photo: ASPPA IMAGES Europe / Alexander Seregin
