In the suburbs of Astana, 35 cars are preparing for an unusual race of the season — Derby Kazakhstan 2026. In such survival races, cars are not spared: they must withstand a series of hits and stay running. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Kursiv Auto visited the site before the start. A large quarry in the area of Sorokovaya station at 17 Talgat Musabayev Street still looks more like a construction site than an arena for a car show. Around it are steppe, dust, machinery and metal structures.

In the middle of the site, a bulldozer is driving iron pipes into the ground with its bucket to fence off the future arena. President of the Astana Automoto Sport Federation Anatoly Bondar is personally taking part in the preparations.

Next to him, volunteers, friends and like-minded people of the federation are working. They are installing stands and fences, as well as preparing the area for the cars.

On Sunday, September 13, at 12.00, thousands of spectators will come to the car battle.

The rules of the competition sound simple: cars crash into each other until only one remains.

“The pilot’s task is to remain the only one running. This is the event where a direct collision is allowed,” Bondar says.

35 cars have already been registered for the start. Participants will be divided into several classes: passenger cars, heavyweights and foreign cars. In the heavy class, for example, Volgas and Nivas will compete.

In such races, the mass and durability of the car often turn out to be more important than engine power.

Despite the spectacle, the demolition derby does not turn into uncontrolled collisions. Participants must follow safety rules. In particular, a deliberate head-on hit at full throttle, as well as a hit to the driver’s door, is prohibited.

This is a fundamental point: the pilot must be able to get out of the car unharmed.

“The cars have safety cages, four- or five-point seat belts, seats with lateral support. The batteries have been moved, their tanks are fenced off. Fire extinguishers are mandatory, as well as a mass to shut the car off,” the federation president explains.

The organizers specifically choose a quarry for such derbies.

“On asphalt there is too good traction and a high probability of getting some kind of injury. But here the guys have less traction,” Bondar explains.

Over four years, the site has grown about twofold. Each time the organizers have to expand spectator zones, build embankments, equip stands and a closed park.

For those who want to watch the competition from the stands, tickets are provided at 5 thousand tenge for adults and 3 thousand for children.

The rest of the spectators will be able to watch the competition along the perimeter of the site. Police and rescue services will monitor order and safety.

Participants will come not only from Astana. Athletes from Karaganda and other regions of Kazakhstan regularly perform in the derby. In different years, teams from Almaty and Shymkent, as well as foreign guests, came to the season closing.

“On the day of the event, there will be no room to drop an apple here. And everything here gets packed with cars. People just get a kick out of it,” Bondar says.

Earlier, Kursiv Auto reported how a car festival in Astana was canceled due to a ban by the akimat.