Thrilling duels: Legends against Russian juniorsWTCC driver Mikhail Kozlovskiy best Russian in third placePlaymates in action: bad luck for Tushkanova, fighting display from Seidel
Spectacular race action, motorsport stars from Formula One, DTM and Le Mans, and beautiful grid girls. Russian fans at the Show Race in Moscow were treated to the best entertainment the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup has to offer. A total 15 drivers made the trip to the Russian capital for the invitation race, which was sponsored by Volkswagen’s partner Gazprom. After 13 laps of the 3.91-kilometre Moscow Raceway, it was DTM legend Nicola Larini (I) who crossed the finish line first in the 235-hp natural gas Scirocco – followed by ex-Formula One driver Jan Lammers (NL) and Russian favourite, WTCC driver Mikhail Kozlovskiy.
As well as Lammers and Larini, rally legends Markku Alén (FIN), Le Mans and DTM champion Manuel Reuter (D), and sports stars like Olympic ski-jumping champion Sven Hannawald (D) and Champions League winner Jerzy Dudek (PL) were also in action. And the entry list also read like a “who’s who” of Russian motorsport: the local contingent included Dakar champion Andrey Karginov, WTCC driver Mikhail Kozlovskiy, Russian champion Andrey Sevastjanov and Mikhail Lepokov from the Volkswagen Polo Cup.
Pole sitter Lanners did not get off to a good start, surrendering the lead in turn one. However, the Dutchman was then involved in a thrilling four-way battle with Larini, Kozlovskiy and Reuter for the three podium positions. The Safety Car made an unwelcome appearance on lap four, when Sven Hannawald collided with Inessa Tushkanova (RUS) – this resulted in retirement for Hannawald. Manuel Reuter met the same fate two laps later, when he was forced to pull into the garage after a crash with young Russian Viktor Shaitar. Playmate Doreen Seidel (D) produced a good fightback, recovering from last on the grid to finish eighth.
Quotes after the show race in Moscow
Nicola Larini: “My second win in the Scirocco R-Cup – my young son will be pleased to see the trophy! It was a nice race, with a lot of action at the head of the field.”
Manuel Reuter: “I would have liked to have finished on the podium, but unfortunately my young colleague shut the door on me. However, the spectators do not want to see boring races, so I think we put on a great show for the fans in Moscow.”
Jan Lammers: “Unfortunately I was really dozy at the start, but was then able to fight back well. In the end Nicola was just too good. As always, it was great fun to meet up with old colleagues. I am happy with second place.”
Mikhail Kozlosvkiy: “It was a home race for me, as I was in Moscow with the WTCC just a few weeks ago. I would obviously have liked to win here, but there is no disgrace in finishing third on the podium behind ex-Formula One drivers like Nicola Larini and Jan Lammers.”
Jerzy Dudek: “I really enjoyed the weekend in Moscow. To drive against racing legends like Jan Lammers, Nicola Larini and Markku Alén was a great experience away from the Volkswagen Castrol Cup in Poland. Sorry I scratched the Scirocco – that was my mistake.”
Andrey Karginov: “That was my very first appearance on a racing circuit. I am usually underway in the Rally Dakar in a far heavier Kamaz truck. It takes quite a bit of getting used to suddenly driving on slicks, with far less weight, and having to find the racing line. However, I put up a decent fight and it was great fun.”
