2026-07-17
More Than 100 Women's Crews Take to the Roads of Žemaitija as the Ninth OlyBet Women's Challenge Gets Underway
On Friday morning in Palanga, the ninth edition of the OlyBet-sponsored Women's Challenge got underway, once again becoming one of the highlights of the Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook racing festival. This year, the recreational navigation rally attracted a full field of 101 all-female crews, who set off on a route of more than 250 kilometres through the picturesque roads of the Žemaitija region.
Throughout the day, participants will travel not only along the Baltic coast but also through some of the most beautiful parts of western Lithuania, including the areas around Plateliai and Plungė. More than 100 kilometres of the route will be navigated using a roadbook, while crews will tackle a variety of orientation, logic, creativity and precision driving challenges.
This year, competitors are contesting six different classifications. A total of 47 crews entered the newcomers' category, while 18 teams are competing in the electric vehicle class. Eleven crews are taking part in the two-person category, while 89 teams are entered in the category for crews of more than two members. Participants are also competing in the "Three Challenges Plus" category, designed for more experienced teams, as well as the corporate team classification, which this year features 25 company teams.
"When we launched this event, we wanted to create a day filled with positive emotions, exciting discoveries and plenty of fun for women. Today, we can confidently say that the Women's Challenge has grown into a community that continues to expand every year. We're delighted to see returning participants, but it's just as rewarding to welcome those taking on the challenge for the very first time," said event organiser Jolanta Iselionienė.
The winners will be announced on Friday evening. The first crews are expected to reach the finish line on the main Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook circuit at around 6:00 p.m., with the best-performing participants receiving their awards later that evening on the festival's main stage.
Photos: Justinas Kyga, Armandas Knezys and Andrius Laucius.