2026-07-17
Record number of qualifying runs and new Winners as the A.R.S.A. Group drag race concludes in Palanga
On Friday, the winners of the A.R.S.A. Group Drag Race were crowned in Palanga. Competitors battled over the classic 402-metre (quarter-mile) distance in five different classes, with this year's event standing out not only for its fiercely contested finals but also for setting a new record – drivers completed as many as eight qualifying runs during a single day.
According to event organiser Aivaras Rudzis, such an intensive schedule has never before been achieved in Palanga.
"This year we set a new Palanga record. During Thursday's Lithuanian Traffic Police Cup competition, competitors completed six qualifying runs each, while on Friday they managed to complete eight qualifying runs over the quarter-mile distance. The finals ran very smoothly, and our new event management system proved successful. Of course, there is still room for improvement, but we'll return to Palanga even stronger next year."
One of the standout stories of the day belonged to Gustas Vismanas, who celebrated his eighteenth birthday just a few days ago. Driving an Audi S5, the young competitor claimed victory in the Daily class, securing his first-ever A.R.S.A. Group Drag Race win. Following long-standing drag racing tradition, the class winner was greeted at the finish line with a celebratory splash of water.
Dominyka Galachovaitė finished second in the Daily class with her BMW 435xd, while Kęstutis Klimas claimed third place in an Audi S4.
In the Stock category, Marius Jocius took victory in a BMW M4, ahead of Laurynas Grikšas in a Dodge Challenger and Andrius Jonušas in a BMW 528.
The Street class was won by Tomas Norkevičius in a BMW M340. Klaudijus Kvietkauskas finished second in an Audi A4 2.5 TDI V6, while Erikas Čagaruk completed the podium in a BMW 340.
Rokas Leleiva claimed victory in the Ultra Street category with his Audi, finishing ahead of Modestas Vaičiulis in a BMW 440i and Rimantas Mencleris in a BMW M340.
The fastest Unlimited class was won by Osvaldas Buzas, whose 1,000-plus-horsepower Tesla Model S Plaid proved unbeatable. Remigijus Alešiūnas finished second in a BMW M240, while Irmantas Burinskas secured third place with his spectacular Audi R8 StartlineMotors TwinTurbo.
Although the event was largely free of major incidents, the finals were not without mechanical drama. Both Andrius Jonušas and Egidijus Valutis saw their hopes of fighting for top positions ended by technical failures just before the decisive runs.
For many years, the A.R.S.A. Group Drag Race has been an integral part of the Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook race weekend. The unique opportunity to compete over both the 201-metre (eighth-mile) and 402-metre (quarter-mile) distances across two days remains one of the event's defining features in the Baltic region, attracting some of the most powerful cars and fastest drivers to Palanga each year.
Photos: Elijus Kniežauskas.