The annual Gymkhana drive fest – 2025 gathered more than 30 racers from Belarus and Russia
The auto festival is clearly a labor of love. Its organizer, six-time Belarusian champion in sports maneuvering and professional race car driver Alexey Shendyukov, made an effort this year to attract more drivers from Russia. The result was not long in coming – the spectator stands were full from beginning to end. The audience was treated to exciting competitions, super-races with motorsport star Alexey Shendyukov, prize drawings, and an exhibition of rare cars.
The youngest participant in the races is 15-year-old Denis Kukuškin. This is his fourth time participating in gymkhana competitions. The young man has racing, drifting, and a passion for cars in his blood, quite literally.
When asked who taught him to drive at such a young age, Denis unexpectedly began listing… all his family members. His mother, Svetlana, is a racer. In different years, she was a winner of ADT.BY. And although Svetlana ended her career in 2003, motorsport has remained with her forever. She met her husband (Denis's father) at a race, and after so many years, they have raised two sons who, like their parents, cannot imagine their lives without the screech of tires and drifting.
Until the age of 14, the young man studied cars by watching his parents, and gained his own experience using a driving simulator computer program.
A year ago, for his birthday, the family decided to give their son a gift, and for the first time on a closed track in an old Ford Sierra, he "spun his first donuts and eights," and a little later debuted in competitions.
– It was scary and exciting because I was afraid of damaging the car. Today I feel more confident. You get such a charge of adrenaline from other participants on the track that it's impossible to remain indifferent.
– There is definitely nothing unattainable in life, – believes Denis.
In the future, he plans to become a pilot or a mechanic in a Porsche racing team. By the way, the young motorsportsman considers his own brother his idol and support, so there is no doubt that the young man will achieve all his plans when he has a reliable brotherly shoulder by his side.
Female racers are treated with special respect on the track. Minsk resident Olga is participating in the Gymkhana drive fest in Vitebsk for the first time. Although the girl often competes in the capital, her first races in life took place in the northern region.
– I love these competitions for the drive, action, and safety. This place is significant for me; after my first participation in the Gymkhana drive fest in Vitebsk several years ago, I bought my own racing car.
The spectator stands are filled with shouts of support and applause on this day. Alexander loves to go drifting in Minsk and never misses the Gymkhana drive fest in his native Vitebsk. His father instilled in him a love for cars. In childhood, their shared hobby was attending sports maneuvering competitions. This year, the young man came to the auto festival with his girlfriend Yuliana. Now it is their shared tradition.
– I've been interested in the technical aspects of cars my whole life. I get fascinated by how drivers race, how racing cars are equipped. I have a driver's license and if I ever get the chance, I would try myself in motorsport, – shared Alexander.