When the 2025 Silk Way Rally entry list was released last week, the Chaborz M-3 was notably missing. The Chechen government had reportedly planned to enter the race with an upgraded version of the military buggy, though that seems to have fallen through.

The Chaborz M-3 (Чаборз М-3; name translates to “bear wolf”) is a lightweight buggy developed since 2016 on commission by the Russian Special Forces University named after Vladimir Putin in Gudermes, Chechnya. While mainly used for training and at parades, it began seeing action in Syria in 2018 as well as Ukraine following the full-scale Russian invasion. Armenia and Serbia also have the M-3 in their motor pools.

The buggy’s main function is providing fast transport of soldiers and supplies, especially across difficult terrain. State media in 2023 noted paratroopers from the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division using an M-3 in tandem with a Kornet ATGM in Zaporizhzhia, while Kadyrovites operating in the region were spotted with one too.

In April 2024, reports from entities like TASS revealed the Chechen Republic intended to field a modified M-3 at the 2025 SWR. Had it taken place as planned, it would have been entered in the Open class.

Sergey Zlobin, who won the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class, tested the car for what Chechen industry and energy minister Adam Khakimov said “to determine the necessary improvements and adjustments to the parameters of the buggy in accordance with the requirements of auto racing championships.”

An explanation for its no-show was not given. Although built by F-MotorSport at ChechenAvto’s plant, 95 percent of the M-3’s parts come from AvtoVAZ, whose focus as of late was on developing the Lada Niva Sport Turbo for the SWR.

The 2025 Silk Way Rally will take place on July 12–22.

Featured image credit: Said Tsarnaev / RIA Novosti