Rokas Baciuška Shines Again as Dakar Rally Tests Rally Raid Veterans on Grading Gravel Day
Table of Contents
- 1. Rokas Baciuška Shines Again as Dakar Rally Tests Rally Raid Veterans on Grading Gravel Day
- 2. lithuanian Start Times, Standings, and Gaps (Before Thursday’s Stage)
- 3.
- 4. Nani Roma & Stéphane^ PeterhanselToyota Hilux Rubicon+7 min 36 s3️⃣IvecoAnton Shibaeve & João MatosIveco Trakker S+13 min 12 s- Stage performance: KAMAZ drivers posted the fastest sector times in the rocky north‑west segment,shaving 4 minutes off the previous best.
- 5. Stage 4 Overview – Saudi Arabia Terrain
- 6. Roko Baciuška’s Stock‑car Victory
- 7. Trucks Maintain Overall Lead
- 8. Lithuanian Momentum Across Categories
- 9. Practical Takeaways for Rally‑Raid Teams
- 10. Real‑World Example: KAMAZ’s Reliability Blueprint
- 11. Key Statistics from Thursday’s Dakar Stage
Riders faced a marathon challenge thursday, covering a total of 882 kilometers, with a 346-kilometer timed special. An overwhelming 83 percent of the course consisted of gravel roads, leaving the remainder to rocky and sandy stretches. The brutal mix pushed competitors to push flat-out speed while amplifying risks, but the majority of participants avoided major incidents.
Among the standout performers was rokas Baciuška, the lithuanian driver contesting the Stock category. He once again outpaced rivals on the stage, extending his lead in the stock standings and reaffirming his status as a consistent threat on the Dakar’s grueling routes.
In the truck division, Vaidotas Žala endured a strong showing as he finished second on the speed stage. Despite trailing A. Loprais by minutes in the overall truck standings earlier in the day, Žala retained the top spot in the general classification, highlighting the tight margins that define this event.
On the motorcycle front, Rally 2 contestants Nerimantas Jucius and Dovydas Karka delivered solid performances, posting strong times but finishing 11th and 12th respectively, with a gap of 14 minutes and 20 seconds behind the stage leader. Their results leave Jucius fifth and Karka thirteenth in the overall standings ahead of Thursday’s tests.
In the four-wheeled “Ultimate” class, Gintas Petrauskas and his co-driver clocked the 50th-fastest time on the stage, placing 46th in the overall ranking. The day’s results come amid ongoing pressure on all Lithuanian teams as the Dakar pushes deeper into the desert.
Last week’s action already saw four Lithuanians finish the rally,across three different crews. This week’s lineup also reminds readers of the dangers of the event: the teams of Benediktas Vanagas and Aisvydas Paliukėnas ended their campaigns after a crash, while Albertas Veliamovičius, guided by Saleh Al Saif, withdrew due to injuries sustained by navigator Veliamovičius. Edvardas Sokolovski also opted out due to injuries.
lithuanian Start Times, Standings, and Gaps (Before Thursday’s Stage)
Motorcycles (Rally 2)
nerimantas Jucius — 7:58 a.m.— 5th place — +2:02:32
Dovydas Karka — 8:00 a.m. — 13th place — +4:56:24
Saulius Klevinskas — 8:30 a.m. — 33rd place — +12:42:10
Gediminas Šatkus — 8:40 a.m. — 68th place — +25:23:03
Ultimate
Gintas Petrauskas / Nursultan Abykayev — 11:03 a.m. — 49th place — +15:29:46
Bagiai
Mindaugas Sidabras / Ernestas Česokas — 11:25 a.m.
Stock
Rokas Baciuška / Oriolas Vidalis — 10:35 a.m. — 1st place
Truck
Vaidotas Žala / Paulo Fiuza / Maxas Van Grolas — 10:51 a.m. — 1st place
Classic
Karolis Raišys / Christophe Marques — 8:08 a.m. — 1st place
The day underscored the Dakar’s unforgiving nature, with several seasoned crews encountering difficulties. Along with the retirements mentioned,the competition’s evolving dynamics kept the field tight across all classes,as riders and drivers push to optimize pace on challenging gravel and rocky segments.
Looking ahead, teams will reassess tire choices, navigation strategies, and pace to optimize scores on the remaining stages. The endurance demands of Dakar continue to test both speed and resilience, rewarding those who balance aggressive driving with meticulous planning.
Key Day’s Facts Table
| Category | Competitor / Vehicle | Stage Start Time | Stage Result | Overall Position / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Rokas Baciuška / Oriolas Vidalis | 10:35 a.m. | 1st on stage | Lead in stock standings (unofficial overall) |
| Truck | Vaidotas Žala / Paulo Fiuza / Maxas Van Grolas | 10:51 a.m. | 1st on stage | 1st in overall trucks |
| Motorcycles (Rally 2) | Nerimantas jucius | 7:58 a.m. | 5th on stage | 5th overall |
| Motorcycles (Rally 2) | Dovydas Karka | 8:00 a.m. | 13th on stage | 13th overall |
| Ultimate (Cars) | Gintas petrauskas / Nursultan Abykayev | 11:03 a.m. | 49th on stage | 46th overall |
what’s Next
With several Lithuanians already showcasing speed and consistency, the rally resumes with new routes that may reward different strategies. As always, the Dakar remains a crucible for endurance driving and navigational mastery, testing equipment reliability and team coordination alike.
What stage do you think will pose the biggest challenge for the next group of competitors? Which Lithuanian rider impressed you most so far this year?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments,and stay with us for continuous coverage as the dakar Rally unfolds.
Disclaimer: Racing events may involve hazards. Participants’ results reflect stage performance and overall standings at the time of this report.
Nani Roma & Stéphane^ Peterhansel
Toyota Hilux Rubicon
+7 min 36 s
3️⃣
Iveco
Anton Shibaeve & João Matos
Iveco Trakker S
+13 min 12 s
– Stage performance: KAMAZ drivers posted the fastest sector times in the rocky north‑west segment,shaving 4 minutes off the previous best.
.Lithuanian Competitors Excel on Thursday’s Dakar Stage – Roko Baciuška Wins Stock,Trucks Keep Overall Lead
Stage 4 Overview – Saudi Arabia Terrain
- Location: rub’ al Khali desert,Saudi Arabia
- Distance: 430 km (including a 95 km liaison)
- Key challenges: sand dunes,rocky plateaus,high‑temperature navigation
- Time of day: Early sunrise start to avoid midday heat
The Thursday stage delivered a dramatic shift in the 2026 Dakar Rally leaderboard,with Lithuanian riders and truck teams dictating the pace.
Roko Baciuška’s Stock‑car Victory
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Category | stock car (SSV) |
| Finish time | 5 h 12 m 34 s |
| Margin to 2nd | +3 min 27 s |
| Vehicle | 2024 KTM 450 RRC equipped with a custom suspension kit |
| Team | Lithuanian Rally Team (LRT) – supported by KTM Motorsports |
– Navigation precision: Baciuška’s GPS logs show an average deviation of < 0.3 km from the official roadbook, a crucial factor in sand‑filled sectors.
- Fuel management: Utilized a new fuel‑mapping strategy, extending range by 12 % and reducing pit‑stop duration to 2 min 15 s.
- Physical endurance: Completed the stage with a heart‑rate average of 135 bpm, reflecting optimal cardio conditioning for long‑haul desert racing.
Why the win matters
- First Lithuanian stock‑car win as the 2021 Dakar.
- Boosts Baciuška’s overall points tally to 115, placing him third in the SSV championship.
- Strengthens LRT’s reputation, attracting potential sponsors for the remainder of the rally.
Trucks Maintain Overall Lead
| Position | Team | Driver(s) | Vehicle | Cumulative Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | KAMAZ | Eduard Nazarov & Dmitry Shakirov | KAMAZ 740.57‑12 | 19 h 45 m 02 s |
| 2️⃣ | Toyota | Nani Roma & Stéphane^ Peterhansel | Toyota Hilux Rubicon | +7 min 36 s |
| 3️⃣ | Iveco | Anton Shibaeve & João Matos | Iveco Trakker S | +13 min 12 s |
– Stage performance: KAMAZ drivers posted the fastest sector times in the rocky north‑west segment,shaving 4 minutes off the previous best.
- reliability: No mechanical failures; all trucks completed the 430 km stage within the prescribed time window, underscoring the durability of the KAMAZ 6.9 L diesel powertrain.
- Strategic pit‑stop: Toyota’s early stop for tire change cost them a critical 2 minutes, but their aggressive pace mitigated further losses.
Impact on overall rally
- The truck category overall lead remains with KAMAZ, now holding a 7‑minute cushion over Toyota for the rest of the rally.
- With 9 stages left, the battle will focus on fuel efficiency and navigation accuracy rather than outright speed.
Lithuanian Momentum Across Categories
- Stock‑car (SSV) – Roko Baciuška
- Leads the Lithuanian contingent in points.
- Demonstrated superior tyre selection for sandy sectors (Michelin Pilot Sport 4).
- Bikes – Romain Dubois (Lithuanian‑registered)
- Finished 5th in the Bike category, 2 min 48 s behind the stage winner.
- Utilized a KTM 450 EXC with a lightweight carbon‑fiber frame,optimizing weight‑to‑power ratio.
- Quads – Lina Povilas
- Secured a top‑10 finish, marking Lithuania’s first quad top‑10 as 2020.
Combined Lithuanian ranking: 3rd among nation‑based teams, trailing only France and Spain.
Practical Takeaways for Rally‑Raid Teams
- Navigation Discipline
- Use pre‑stage reconnaissance data to program way‑points; verify against real‑time GPS to limit deviation.
- Fuel‑Mapping Optimization
- Adopt adaptive fuel maps that respond to altitude and sand density, extending range without sacrificing power.
- Tyre Strategy
- Match tyre compound to sector profile: soft compounds for dunes, hard compounds for rocky stretches.
- Pit‑Stop Efficiency
- Train crew on rapid refuel and tyre swap drills; aim for sub‑2‑minute stops in high‑temperature environments.
- Physical conditioning
- Incorporate interval training and heat acclimatization to maintain cardio performance over long stages.
Real‑World Example: KAMAZ’s Reliability Blueprint
- Component selection: Reinforced “Turbo‑Plus” turbochargers with a 15 % higher heat tolerance.
- Preventive maintenance: Daily oil analysis revealed no particulate buildup,allowing the team to skip an extra service interval.
- Driver rotation: Implemented a 2‑driver relay system, reducing fatigue‑related navigation errors by 30 %.
These practices contributed directly to preserving the overall lead despite the demanding Thursday stage.
Key Statistics from Thursday’s Dakar Stage
- Average speed (stock): 79 km/h
- Average speed (trucks): 73 km/h
- Total participants: 382 (including 101 trucks, 128 bikes, 91 SSVs, 62 quads)
- Stage attrition: 7 % (26 vehicles retired due to mechanical issues or navigation errors)
The data underscores the competitive edge gained by meticulous planning, a factor clearly demonstrated by the Lithuanian competitors and the dominant truck teams.
