2025-07-19
“Women’s Challenge” Winners Awarded – Only Seconds Separated the Leaders
From early Friday morning until evening, nearly one hundred all-women teams buzzed around the Lithuanian seaside region – it was the “Women’s Challenge,” sponsored by Olybet. Held for the eighth time on the eve of the “Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook” race, this fun and adventurous rally drew 97 crews this year. Although rain threatened from the morning, participants confidently embraced every challenge.
“It was a fun day with no unpleasant incidents, although the rain followed us throughout. As soon as we arrived at the Klaipėda autodrome, it started raining. But since the tasks there took place on a specially prepared slippery surface, the rain didn’t impact the challenge. Later, the skies cleared and everything went smoothly,” said event organizer Jolanta Iselionienė. She noted that the final challenge – a slalom at the Kretinga motoball field – had to be canceled due to heavy rain interfering with part of the teams’ performance.
Throughout the day, participants had to complete various challenges: perform tasks while wearing goggles simulating intoxication, identify car parts by touch only, decode quizes, and more. The route took them through some of the most beautiful areas of Lithuania seaside area – including Ventė Cape, Dituva and Dovilai parks, and the charming town of Kretinga.
After overcoming all the challenges, participants crossed the finish arch at the “Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook” race village. As the sun set, the awards ceremony took place on the main stage, with trophies presented by Algis Latakas, General Director of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.
In the general classification, first place went to the team “Du gesintuvai” (Two Fire Extinguishers), consisting of Vaida Lenkaitienė and Nerija Norbukienė. Just six seconds behind, “AROS MARINE Utopia” with Giedrė Kuprienė and Ramunė Giedraitė-Vaitelavičienė finished second. Third place went to “Rigveda”, driven by Augustė Rupšytė, with teammates Rūta Saladžienė, Eglė Kristina Holm, Ieva Didžiokaitė, and Gabija Ročytė.
In the more-than-two members category, the winners were “Rigveda”, second place went to “Ladies in Red”, and third to “TŪTA x Grill London”.
In the two-member team category, “Du gesintuvai” were the winners, followed by “AROS MARINE Utopia” in second and “Visai normalios” (“Quite Normal”) in third.
In the “Three Challenges Plus” category (for teams with members participating for the third time or more), “Du gesintuvai” again took first, “Rigveda” second, and “Ladies in Red” third.
Among electric vehicle teams, “Du gesintuvai” were again fastest, followed by “Šiaulių Volkswagen centras Transalda” and “Visai normalios”.
In the corporate team classification, the top three were all from Klaipėda: gold went to “AROS MARINE”, silver to “ARIJUS”, and bronze to the “Klaipėdos Uostas” (Klaipėda Port) team.
Photos by Armandas Knezys and Tomas Krisiulevičius