“I’m still learning in the dunes”

Rokas Baciuska was leading the T4 modified SSV category aboard his Red Bull Can-Am Factory Team Maverick right up until the very last stage of 2023 Dakar and it looked like he was going to cruise to victory, after his 3rd place in 2022. But the toughest rally-raid in the world is a cruel mistress and just kilometres from the end he and his Spanish co-driver Oriol Vidal hit mechanical problems that allowed rival Eryk Goczal to take the class win by just 16 minutes. But the young Lithuanian has experienced similar disappointments in his previous career as a rallycross driver and knows how to bounce back. On the final finish line of the Dakar, Rokas declared he was already focused on winning the 2023 Rally Raid World Championship. And that’s exactly what he did with two rounds left to go! First on the Abu Dubai Desert Challenge, he repeated that performance in Mexico at the Sonora Rally to build up an unassailable lead. With a second T4 world championship trophy safely on the mantelpiece, Rokas and Oriol were back for the last 2023 W2RC round, the Rallye du Maroc, competing in the lightweight prototype T3 category in preparation for the 2024 Dakar. It is one of the most fiercely fought over categories and there will be a horde of talented young drivers in Saudi Arabia fighting it out for victory. And that’s just how Rokas and Oriol like it!

R.B.: “This will be my third Dakar and I’m really looking forward to it. I know what to expect a little now in terms of the terrain but racing for 2 weeks in those conditions is never easy. I have good speed on the tracks but I’m still learning in the dunes. I think in total there will be about 60 cars racing in the T3 category and 15 of them will be entered by professional drivers, but that’s what I like – to be able to measure myself against the best. Like them I’ll be trying to show my pace with the ultimate aim of moving up to the T1+ class. Mitch (Gutherie) is going to be tough customer as will be the Polish guys (the Goczal clan) but myself and Oriol are up for the challenge.”

O.V.: “Time flies, I’m really looking forward to my 6th Dakar and the 2nd with Rokas. After the last minute disappointment we had to deal with last year, we are really hungry of that win in the toughest race in the world. We know it will be one of the most competitive categories in the race and that makes it even more interesting. I feel more ready than ever before with a lot of kilometres under my belt, the second attempt with Rokas and the support of one of the best teams. Dakar is Dakar, you never know what will happen after so many days and surprises, but we know what our target is and we’ll give our best to achieve it.”