The People

Viktor Timchenko

Viktor Timchenko is a military officer, general, and race car driver. Since 1996, he has headed the regional organization of the Society for the Defense of Ukraine, and from 2010 to 2017 he headed the All-Ukrainian organization of the Society for the Defense of Ukraine.

The Society for the Defense of Ukraine (SDU) was established on the basis of the Ukrainian branch of the DOSAAF (All-Union Voluntary Society for the Assistance of the Army, Aviation and Navy, founded in 1948) after the collapse of the USSR.

The Ukrainian branch of the DOSAAF put a lot of effort into the development of motorsports. This helped many Ukrainians become champions of the USSR and international championships. Since 2017, Viktor Tymchenko has been the general director of the Chayka circuit.

“I persistently wanted to turn Chayka into Formula 1. And I still do.”

Viktor Povarov

Viktor Povarov – a racing driver who achieved multiple podium finishes in international races. Distinguished Ukrainian coach in technical sports disciplines. Master of Sport of the USSR in motocross. Master of Sport of the USSR in track racing. One of the founders of the Chayka autodrome in Kyiv.

“One of the creators of the Kyiv Automotodrom Chayka. “Chayka” has been recognized as the signature of the USSR”

Inspiration Wall: Get to Know the Racers Up Close

The Ukrainian racing driver Yuri Serov won no fewer than eight Ukrainian national championships in various types of motor sport - track and hippodrome racing, rallies, and autocross. He won bronze in the Championship of the USSR for Autocross. He was a medallist in the Socialist Countries Cup for Highway and Track Racing around five times. He was Ukraine’s first-ever motor racing coach.

Yury Serov

“After my first competition, I could not see myself without a car anymore.”

Anatoly Yefimov is a world-class racer who has been awarded the accolade Master of Sport. He has won four medals in the Ukrainian Motocross Championship. Between 1981 and 1991, he finished almost every season as the champion of Ukraine and one of the top three drivers in the USSR. He has won international speedway races in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Spain. In 2007, he finished in the top five at the Motocross World Championship in Belgium. He still competes in motocross and speedway races today.

Anatoly Yefimov

“I used to climb Hoverla on a motorcycle!”

Vladimir Kavinov is a two-time world champion in the team event, having triumphed at the Moto Cross of Nations world championship (in 1978) and the Trophy of Nations (in 1979). He won a silver (in 1977) and two bronzes (in 1976 and 1979) in the individual motocross world championship in the 250 cm 3 class. Vladimir holds the record for most medals and wins in the Motocross Championship of the USSR and was awarded the title of Distinguished Master of Sport of the USSR. He is an honorary member of the Ukrainian Motosport Federation.

Vladimir Kavinov

“You are not born a champion, you become one through a tough struggle”

Alexandr Salyuk is a twenty-time champion of Ukraine, in a variety of motor racing disciplines. He finished third in the Championship eleven times. From 2008 to 2012 he was chairman of the FAU Rally Committee. He is Deputy Chairman of the Veterans’ Council in the Ukrainian Automobile Federation.

Alexandr Salyuk

The question of finding oneself is very difficult”

Alexandr Medvedchenko (born in 1950) is a world-class Master of Sport. He is a four-time champion of the USSR in auto-racing. A Master of Sport of Ukraine, in the ‘Formula’ class. He has won the Ukrainian Track Racing Championship multiple times.

Alexandr Medvedchenko

“I would race even on Baba Yaga’s broom”

Leonid Protasov (born in 1957) won multiple championships of the USSR and Ukraine in track racing; he was a member of the national team of the USSR and was awarded the title Master of Sport. He was the director of Kyiv’s Chayka autodrome for 17 years, starting in 1999.

Leonid Protasov

“Racing has taught me one thing: don’t stop halfway”