TCR Russia: Kirill Ladygin defends the lead at Kazan Ring

The fifth event of TCR Russia is held at the Kazan Ring, a favourite circuit of the reigning champion and current points leader Kirill Ladygin. The LADA Sport driver has claimed three victories in the Republic of Tatarstan over the last four years and is ready to defend his leadership in the standings. Ladygin has scored 141 points so far, building a healthy margin over a quartet of pursuers that are covered by nine points. Andrej Maslennikov (Lukoil Racing, Hyundai i30 N) and Pavel Kalmanovich (AG Team, CUPRA) who shared race wins in the previous event at Moscow Raceway are split by one point only, as they lie 31 and 32 points behind Ladygin. 
The former champion Dmitry Bragin (TAIF Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS) follows three further points adrift and five ahead of Ivan Lukashevich (Lukoil Racing, Hyundai i30 N).
With 159 points still at stake in the three remaining events, other drivers hope to join the title fight, beginning with rookie Zakhar Slutskiy (Carville Racing, Hyundai i30 N) and LADA Sport's second driver Mikhail Mityaev who have gaps of 48 and 49 points. 
Live streaming of the races, Sunday at www.tcr-series.com; Race 1 at 11:45 and Race 2 at 16:15 local times (10:45 and 15:15 CEST).

Picture: Grigory Golyshev