The 2025 Super Prix, organised by GulfSport Racing (Radical UAE), took place last weekend (19th April 2025) on the 4.29 km International Circuit at the Dubai Autodrome.
This inaugural running of the format took the shape of a 2-lap Super Pole qualifying session to determine the grid for an 85-minute endurance race for drivers and teams running the Radical SR3.
It was a day of blue skies and bright sunshine, but all eyes were on the highly anticipated clash between current and former Gulf Radical Cup Champions, Alim Geshev and Alex Bukhantsov. The event also attracted several new faces, as well as experienced and talented competitors, including regulars Alex Novichkov sharing with Marcel Kiefer, Jimmy Chou, Harry Hannan, Kenny Murray sharing with Jon Simmonds, and Sean Simpson sharing with Marcel Kopp.
Super Pole allows drivers just an out lap, two flying laps, and one in lap—so focus and precision are critical, especially as lap times are disallowed if track limits are exceeded.
The session kicked off with the #88 Dream Racing SR3 XXR driven by Sean Simpson, but unfortunately a technical issue brought them to a premature halt. Jon Simmonds went next and set a best lap time of 1:44.667 in his XXR. He was followed by National Champion Alex Novichkov, who, after losing his first flying lap for track limits, set a strong time of 1:41.051. Next up was Harry Hannan in an SR3 XX, whose best lap was 1:41.922. Hannan was followed by Jimmy Chou, who clocked a 1:42.103.
This left the intriguing battle between two of the world’s fastest Radical racers: Alim Geshev and Alex Bukhantsov. Geshev went first and set his best time on his second flying lap—a 1:40.704. Bukhantsov set off exactly 90 seconds later and was quickly up to speed. His first flying lap (1:41.800) was deleted for track limits, and his second lap was a 1:41.171—just 0.467 seconds slower than Geshev.
The Super Prix began with a lightning-fast start from Bukhantsov, fresh from competing in the 2025 Ultimate Cup and Asia Le Mans Series. He took the lead into Turn 1 from his P3 grid slot, followed closely by front-row starters Geshev and Novichkov. Taiwanese teenager Jimmy Chou, who was handed a 5-second penalty for exceeding track limits while following Novichkov, was closely pursued by Kopp, Hannan, and Simmonds who also received a 5-second penalty. As the tyres warmed up, lap times started to fall, and it was 2023/24 Champion Bukhantsov who began to build a gap, pulling nearly 4 seconds clear of Geshev as they reached the one-hour-to-go mark.
As the race progressed, it became apparent that although Geshev remained in P2, he was able to match Bukhantsov’s lap times and even set the fastest lap on Lap 4.
When the pit lane opened after 35 minutes for the mandatory 4-minute pit stop (allowing for driver changes and refuelling), Novichkov was first in to hand over to Marcel Kiefer, followed by Hannam and Kopp, who handed over to Simpson. Bukhantsov then pitted, leaving Geshev in the lead, and was followed in by Chou and Simmonds.
Geshev pitted on Lap 29, hoping his clear laps before the stop would give him the lead once his 4-minute stop was complete. However, it wasn’t to be—Geshev’s stop was 18 seconds longer than Bukhantsov’s perfectly timed 4-minute stop. As the second half of the race began, Geshev was now 19 seconds behind, followed by Jimmy Chou, Hannan, Keifer, Sompson, and Murray. Geshev was lapping faster than Bukhantsov, and with 25 minutes to go, the chase was on.
By the 16-minute mark, Geshev had closed the gap to 16 seconds, gaining at more than 1 second per lap. With 10 minutes remaining, the gap was down to 11 seconds, and it became a nail-biting chase as Geshev could now see Bukhantsov ahead.
Jimmy Chou held a comfortable P3 position, ahead of Harry Hannan, Marcel Kiefer, Simpson, and Murray.
Bukhantsov delivered a flawless race and crossed the finish line just 6.329 seconds ahead of Geshev after flat-out racing over 206 km. Jimmy Chou shared the podium in P3 for the Solo Class drivers.
Taking the top step of the AM/AM class were Novichkov and Kiefer.
