"As a child I dreamed of becoming Schumacher": Russian karting champion Leonid Panfilov at the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye

Primorsky Krai

Multiple Russian karting champion and LADA Sport ROSNEFT driver in the Super-Production class Leonid Panfilov met with school students at the branch of the National Centre RUSSIA in the Primorye region. The racing driver came to Vladivostok for the filming of the travel blog "Route Built".

During the meeting, the LADA Sport ROSNEFT driver told the children about himself and the development of his motorsport career. As a boy growing up in Bishkek, Leonid dreamed of becoming a racer like Schumacher. Years later, he has lost count of his victories and no longer remembers how many cups he has won, but each one is equally valuable to him. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA in the Primorye region

Leonid has a special respect for the domestic automotive industry: "Every time I beat foreign cars driving a Lada, I feel something special. I realise how many people stand behind this."

When asked by the students where he might have succeeded outside motorsport, he replied that he would most likely have taken up kickboxing or found himself in a coaching career.

The travel blog team toured the expositions of the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye and filmed a video that may be included in a new episode of "Route Built". In Vladivostok, Leonid will also take part in the marathon race and, together with the blog team, film interesting locations of the region for a new television episode.