2025-06-25
A double celebration awaits drag racing enthusiasts at the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race
On July 16th, the 26th edition of the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race – the largest motorsport event in the Baltic States – will kick off in Palanga.
As part of the event, spectators can look forward to a fan-favorite: an adrenaline-filled, two-day drag racing competition. It’s a thrilling experience for both drivers and fans – and registration is already open. Those eager to challenge others on the Palanga strip with cars carefully built for this event can register at racing.lt/lt/drag or palangosdragas.lt to sign up for the drag races.
For more detailed information, visit racing.lt/drag.
“Drag racing has deep roots and a long-standing tradition in our ‘Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook’ event,” says Darius Jonušis, the event’s chief organizer. “This electrifying motorsport made its Palanga debut in 2006 and quickly gained popularity. This year marks the 19th edition of the drag races.”
These races are among the few motorsport competitions that promote legal, high-speed racing while also encouraging road safety – showing by example where and how racing can be both thrilling and responsible for everyone involved.
This year’s “A.R.S.A. group DRAGAS 2025” races, organized for many years by the DragFest.LT team, will begin on Thursday, July 17th, at the section of the track commonly referred to as “beyond the Klaipėda turn.” From 11 AM to 3 PM, qualifying races for the Lithuanian Traffic Police Cup will take place.
The finalists will compete over a 1/8 mile (201.168 meters) distance – a stretch that seasoned drag racers typically conquer in under 7 seconds.
On Friday, July 18th, drag fans will return to the same part of the track where the qualifiers were held the day before. There, they’ll battle it out over a 1/4 mile (402.336 meters) stretch to determine who is the fastest and who earns the title of King of the Road.
Organizers emphasize that these short, high-intensity races level the playing field for all participants. Victory doesn’t depend solely on horsepower – it also comes down to how well drivers know their machines, how skillfully they use them, and, of course, how quick their reactions are.
Photos by Vytautas Pilkauskas and Andrius Laucius