Irek Minnakhmetov dies during a workout in the gym

TCR Russia regular Irek Minnakhmetov passed away Friday at the age of 39.
The driver from Kazan died during a workout in the gym, presumably because of a detached thrombus.
A former champion in Russian autocross (2002) and rally-cross (2009), Minnakhmetov was the CEO of Tatspirtprom, the largest alcohol company in Russia that ranked first in the national rating of vodka producers.
Minnakhmetov had joined TCR Russia since 2016 when he finished 8^th at the wheel of a SEAT León; he then switched to an Audi RS 3 LMS in 2o17 and claimed his best results with second places at Smolensk and his home racetrack Kazan Ring that helped him to be classified sixth in the standings and won the SMP RCRS Trophy for amateur drivers. He continued with the Audi in 2018 and 2019, ranking 12^th and 14^th in the championship respectively, but was shining again at Kazan where he finished third in 2018 and fourth last year.
The whole TCR family offers their condolences to Irek’s relatives and to TCR Russia.

Picture: TCR Russia/Danil Kolodin