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The 2026 Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook Race by the Numbers

2026-07-22

The 2026 Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook Race by the Numbers

From 15–18 July, Palanga became the Baltic capital of speed and adrenaline for the 27th consecutive year. Drivers, team members, their families and thousands of motorsport fans gathered for the Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook race. The first 1,000-kilometre race in Palanga was held in 2000, and the event has taken place every year without interruption ever since.

Although the opening days of this year's racing festival were blessed with sunshine, heavy rain arrived on race day. Teams both started and finished the main race on a wet track, enjoying dry conditions for only a few hours. Despite the challenging weather, 19 of the 20 starting teams reached the finish.

The Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook weekend also featured the OlyBet Women's Challenge, A.R.S.A. Group Drag Race, Orlen Spectator Slalom, the Motor Fest exotic car exhibition, Audio Freakz Lietuva dB Drag sound system competition, the Volfas Engelman Non-Alcoholic 1,000-metre Mechanics' Run, and, for the first time in Palanga, a round of the Mitjet Baltics Championship.

Race Statistics

  • This year, 20 teams took the start. Together they completed 6,376 laps – more than 17,000 kilometres.
  • Teams made a total of 286 pit stops, during which drivers were changed, tyres replaced and, when necessary, repairs carried out.
  • The winning team completed the full 373-lap distance in 8 hours 41 minutes 57.8 seconds, making it the fifth-fastest race in the event's history.
  • This year's winning time was just 1.472 seconds faster than the 2018 race, which lasted 8 hours 41 minutes 59.272 seconds.
  • The Code 60 procedure was deployed three times. The race leaders completed 23 laps under Code 60 conditions, lasting a total of 1 hour 13 minutes 44 seconds.
  • No Safety Car or Full Course Yellow periods were required this year.
  • BMW was the most represented manufacturer on the grid with seven cars, followed by six Porsche, two Audi, two Volkswagen, and one each from Lamborghini, Ginetta and Lada.
  • Six teams led at least one lap. RIMO Adero & LKU.LT spent the most time in front, leading 272 laps.
  • Energija by RD Signs Racing, driving a Lamborghini Huracán GT3, led 75 laps, the second-highest total of the race. However, while leading after completing lap 123, the team retired following an accident.
  • RINVEST by Juta Racing led 12 laps, PPF by Dream 2 Drive led seven, OVOKO Dream 2 Drive led six, while defending champions Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG led one lap.

Winners and Fastest Drivers

  • Overall victory went to RIMO Adero & LKU.LT. Their Porsche GT3 Cup was driven by Mantas Janavičius, Marius Bartkus and Great Britain's Benjamin Barker, with Ignas Abečiūnas serving as team manager.
  • It was the first overall Palanga victory for all three drivers.
  • RIMO Adero & LKU.LT spent nearly three-quarters of the race in the lead, heading the field for 272 of the 373 laps.
  • A Porsche won the Palanga 1006 km race for the 16th time, marking the manufacturer's first victory since 2021.
  • RINVEST by Juta Racing finished second. Simas Juodviršis, Jonas Karklys, Leonardas Diržys and Oskaras Naujokaitis completed 371 laps in their Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, just two laps behind the winners.
  • Third place went to Porsche Lietuva Racing. Robertas Kupčikas, Tautvydas Rudokas and Audrius Piktys completed 368 laps in their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
  • Karolis Jovaiša of Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG set the fastest lap of the race for the second consecutive year. On lap 280, he recorded 1:06.794 at an average speed of 144.55 km/h, earning the Lithuanian Automobile Sport Federation Fastest Lap Trophy.
  • Just 0.157 seconds behind Jovaiša was Simas Juodviršis of RINVEST by Juta Racing, whose best lap was 1:06.951.

  • The fastest laps in each class were:

    • GT Open: Benjamin Barker – 1:07.892
    • GT4: Vilius Reškevičius – 1:14.092
    • TC4: Tomas Rudokas – 1:20.550
    • SP3: Max Tubben – 1:09.522

Class Winners

  • GT3: RINVEST by Juta Racing claimed the class victory, ahead of Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG and Energija by RD Signs Racing.
  • GT Open: Overall winners RIMO Adero & LKU.LT also won the class, followed by Porsche Lietuva Racing and LIK Racing by KTK.
  • GT4: Baltic Karting Academy won the class after completing 328 laps. DHR Racing finished second, with BMW KESTAUTO–TELŠIŲ STATYBA third.
  • TC4: In the largest class, all three podium positions were taken by teams competing with identical BMW G20 Turbo Cup cars. Anjesė by Route67 won, ahead of Contribee.com Racing and LIK Racing by Delphi.
  • SP3: ConnectPay-BMW Kestauto Powered by Sonax claimed victory, followed by KADO AUTO–EGPX.LT and STATOMENAS by KAUNO ASK.

Photos: Vytautas Pilkauskas and Andrius Laucius.