Gulf Radical Cup Delivers Dramatic Season Opener at Yas Marina
Bukhantsov takes two victories as Geshev wins the second Sprint Race, while three different National Class winners emerge from an action-packed opening weekend.
The Gulf Radical Cup opened its 2026/27 season at Yas Marina Circuit on 24–25 October with three races, close battles throughout the field and plenty of drama in both the Overall and National Class championships.
Alex Bukhantsov emerged as series leader with two victories, while former champion Alim Geshev claimed the remaining win. In National Class, Ilia Sidorov, Alexander Chachava and Andy Lowe each took a victory, underlining the depth of competition.
Qualifying – Bukhantsov Sets the Pace
Continental Racing's Alex Bukhantsov secured sprint pole position with a 1:58.316 lap, just 0.229 seconds ahead of Geshev, with teammate Vasily Vladykin third and Dream Racing's Amir Feyzulin fourth.
Sidorov led the National Class qualifiers in fifth overall, ahead of Johnny Khazzoum and Chachava.
Bukhantsov continued his strong form on Sunday in Endurance qualifying, securing another pole with a 1:58.008 lap, ahead of Vladykin and Geshev. Chachava impressed with fourth overall and National Class pole.
Sprint Race 1
The opening 25-minute sprint produced a close battle between the leading three drivers.
Vladykin made an excellent start from third, moving ahead of Geshev and briefly taking the lead from Bukhantsov on the opening lap. However, Bukhantsov reclaimed the position on lap two and remained ahead for the rest of the race.
Geshev kept the Continental Racing pair under pressure, setting the fastest lap of the race on lap four with a 1:59.626.
Bukhantsov eventually took victory by just 0.784 seconds from Vladykin, with Geshev third, 2.511 seconds behind the winner. Feyzulin completed the top four.
In National Class, Sidorov claimed the opening victory with fifth overall.
One of the standout performances came from Alain Alfonsi, who charged from 13th on the grid to finish sixth overall and second in class. Serhii Volobuiev secured third in National Class despite a five-second penalty, with Andy Lowe fourth.
The shared Dubai Drives Racing entry of Tom Brewer and Alex Bambrough finished ninth overall, just 0.041 seconds ahead of Dmitrii Shishko after penalties were applied.
Aqib Chowdhury also made progress from a pit lane start to finish 11th.
Sprint Race 2
Geshev responded in the second Sprint Race, taking victory after another closely fought contest with Bukhantsov.
Geshev moved ahead during the opening stages, while Feyzulin climbed into third ahead of Vladykin.
A late safety car period interrupted the race, leaving only a handful of competitive laps. When racing resumed, Bukhantsov remained close behind Geshev, with both drivers recording laps below two minutes. But with no answer from Bukhantsov, Geshev took the victory.
Geshev set the fastest lap at 1:59.924 and held on to win by just 0.373 seconds. Feyzulin finished third, narrowly ahead of Vladykin, with only 0.393 seconds separating them.
The National Class produced a new winner as Chachava bounced back from his Race 1 retirement to finish an impressive fifth overall.
Lowe secured second in class and sixth overall, ahead of Khazzoum, who recovered from his opening-race retirement to take third in class.
Sidorov finished fourth in National Class, just 0.346 seconds ahead of Volobuiev, while Alfonsi completed the overall top ten.
With one victory each for Bukhantsov and Geshev, the weekend's endurance finale promised another close contest.
Endurance Race
The 45-minute endurance race provided the weekend's most dramatic action, with changing positions, retirements and periods of safety car influencing the final result.
Bukhantsov led from pole, with Vladykin close behind, while Feyzulin made a strong start to climb from fifth to third. National Class pole-sitter Chachava suffered an early retirement after just one lap. Geshev picked up some damage at the first corner of the race, so had to make a quick trip to the pits, for the team to make a quick repair and get him back out, but this dropped him right to the back of the 20-car grid.
Behind the leaders, the National Class battle was particularly competitive. Lowe moved ahead of Sidorov on the opening lap, only for Sidorov to reclaim the position on lap two. Alfonsi, Shishko and Khazzoum were also involved in the midfield fight.
After an early neutralisation, Bukhantsov and Vladykin maintained their advantage, matching each other almost perfectly on pace. Their fastest laps differed by just 0.008 seconds.
Bukhantsov claimed his second victory of the weekend, crossing the line just 0.470 seconds ahead of Vladykin to complete another Continental Racing one-two.
Lowe delivered an outstanding performance to finish third overall and claim National Class victory, only 0.951 seconds behind Bukhantsov.
Geshev recovered to an amazing fourth, just 0.436 seconds behind Lowe, while Sidorov finished fifth overall and second in class, with Alfonsi sixth and third in class.
Just 1.468 seconds separated the three National Class podium finishers.
Chowdhury completed another strong recovery drive to seventh overall, ahead of Shishko, Mark Berg and Rithvik Karthik.
Championship Battle Takes Shape
The opening round demonstrated the strength and competitiveness of the Gulf Radical Cup, with close racing across the field.
Bukhantsov leaves Yas Marina with two victories, although Geshev's sprint win and Vladykin's consistent podium performances suggest the Overall championship will be closely contested.
National Class looks equally unpredictable, with three different winners from three races. Sidorov, Chachava and Lowe have all demonstrated winning pace, while Alfonsi, Volobuiev and others have shown they will also be serious contenders.
With an impressive opening weekend complete, the Gulf Radical Cup now looks ahead to the next round in Dubai at the end of November.
