2026-06-18
„Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook“ čempionai į trasą grįžta ta pačia sudėtimi: „Nereikia taisyti to, kas nėra sugedę“
As the race weekend in Palanga approaches on July 15–18, more and more teams are submitting their entries. Among the participants are both newcomers and familiar faces that have become well known over the years. One of them is last year’s “Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook” winning team, which will return with the same "Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II" and the same driver lineup as in 2025.
“I won’t lie—after winning last year, I had all kinds of thoughts. Of course, I wanted to race in Palanga again, but I considered whether I really needed to assemble my own team or if I should simply join another car as a paid driver. People say that once you become a champion, you should come back and prove it wasn’t a fluke. But in 2024, we were leading the race before being forced to retire due to a technical failure, so last year’s victory was already proof that it wasn’t just luck,” says Mantas Matukaitis, one of the drivers of the Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG team. He adds that it will be exciting to return to the event as reigning champions and once again experience the full range of emotions that the race brings.
The driver also notes that his decision to return was encouraged by the sincere support of long-term partners he has worked with for many years, as well as by the unwavering encouragement of the fans.
Symbolically, the number thirteen turned out to be a lucky one for Matukaitis last year—it took him exactly thirteen starts in the event to finally climb to the top step of the podium. Ahead of this year’s race, he admits that the team’s ambitions remain high. Most importantly, he says, he hopes to see as many strong competitors on the track as possible and to enjoy an intense battle throughout the race.
The team lineup remains unchanged
Speaking about preparations for another start, the driver who assembled the team says that its entire lineup has remained exactly the same, joking that there is no need to fix something that isn’t broken. This year, the championship title will once again be defended by Mantas Matukaitis, Karolis Jovaiša, and Egidijus Gražys behind the wheel, while the team will continue to be managed by Mindaugas Valiūnas.
However, Matukaitis admits that preparations have not included as many competitive kilometers as he would have liked.
“Karolis is always in great shape because coaching racing drivers is his profession, while Egidijus and I may be a bit rusty. Last year, I spent a lot of time training on a driving simulator, but this year I had to take a break. Egidijus also sold his race car this year, so he probably won’t be as sharp as he was last season. I suppose our rivals will have a better chance this year.”
The experienced racer also points out that these endurance races are won not only through speed but also through strategy. Every yellow flag or on-track incident can dramatically alter the course of the event. A little luck and complete trust among team members are equally essential, he says.
“To those who haven’t yet formed a team and are still wondering whether to come to Palanga, I strongly encourage you to do it. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, the budgets are substantial, and spending the entire weekend in Palanga isn’t cheap. But despite all that, we simply don’t have a bigger or more spectacular motorsport event than the 1006 km race anywhere in the Baltic States—and I believe we never will. We should cherish and protect what we have, and one way to do that is by participating. This is a true celebration of motorsport. Only when the organizers eventually grow tired of putting it together will we realize what we had and what we lost. So I sincerely want to encourage everyone who is still undecided. I believe our participation is vital if we want to continue having an event of this caliber,” Matukaitis concluded, inviting everyone to attend the racing festival taking place in Palanga from July 15th to 18th.