Benediktas Vanagas and Kuldar Sikkas are preparing for a new start Sports

In the coming weekend, the “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Baltics” tandem will start in the new season of the FIA ​​European Baja Cup.

For several years now, the Lithuanian and Estonian crews have traditionally included the championships of the old continent organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in the preparation program for the upcoming Dakar. This year it will consist of five races, which will take place in Spain, Italy, Hungary, Portugal and Turkey.

The duo of B. Vanag and K. Sikk, who recorded a historic achievement in the most difficult race on the planet, will aim to finish in all scheduled stages. According to the pilot, in such a short distance race, every sporting kilometer covered is very valuable – one lap is equivalent to one normal Dakar day. Also, the “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Baltics” team does not hide its ambitions to have the largest number of points at the end of the year and to lift the main trophy of this season – the European Baja Cup established by the FIA.

The first stop of the preparation for next year’s Dakar will be the stage of the European Championships “Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura”, which will take place on May 3-4. in Spain. The crew will participate in the competition with the Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+ car, marked with starting number 201.

Black Hawk VIII, which returned from the Dakar Rally in February, was carefully prepared at the team’s base in Vilnius. Part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Baltics team already left for Spain on Sunday morning, the rest of the team will join on Tuesday evening. May 1 B. Vanagas and K. Sikkas intend to test the car in local conditions during private tests. The tandem will be joined by the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Caetano Portugal team with João Ramos in the lead.

“Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura” organizers have prepared a 3-speed circuit for the participants, the total distance of which is 400 combat kilometers. The race starts on Friday with a short 6 kilometer prologue section. The best performing participants will have the opportunity to choose the starting position for the first stage, which will take place in the evening of the same day. On Saturday, the competition will move to the second half – the athletes will have to overcome the 175 and 115 kilometer sections at a competitive pace. 43 crews will participate in the first round of the FIA ​​European Buggy Cup, 15 of which will compete with T1 category equipment.