A fresh challenge for Baciuška

December 31 ^st 2026 - 18:23 [GMT + 3]

After making a real impact in his first Ultimate appearance last season, Rokas Baciuška caught everyone by surprise by switching to the Stock class with the new Defender outfit.

In life as in his car, the Lithuanian has a knack for swerving. Rokas Baciuška, a three-time W2RC champion in SSV and Challenger with three Dakar podium finishes to his name in these classes, delivered a solid performance in his Ultimate debut last year. He even won the gruelling 48 H chrono stage, although that was not enough to put him back into the top 10 overall following an unfortunate start to the rally, with a series of problems that had sent him careening down the standings. After that, Baciuška was expected to be one of the podium contenders in the premier class this season. However, trying to raise enough funds to perform at that level is not something he was interested in. "It would have been a tall order", he admits. As a result, when Defender called to offer him a seat in their new project, it did not take long to persuade him. "I liked the idea", he says adamantly. "The Stock class harkens back to the origins of the rally. Infusing new life into this class piqued my interest, especially with Stéphane and Sara at my side." He means Stéphane "Monsieur Dakar" Peterhansel and Sara Price, the first American woman to win a stage of the Dakar. Baciuška, 26, has taken up a new challenge with the aspiration to end the Toyota hegemony in the Stock class and, if everything falls into place, crack the top 20 overall. He is well aware that he will have to fend off his illustrious teammate and take a different approach to the race. "The car is 70% original", he points out. "Only the brakes, the undercarriage and the fuel tank have been reworked. Compared to a T1+, our car has smaller wheels and shorter suspension travel. We've got the oomph, but we'll need to stay focused. I won't be able to attack like an animal, I'll have to take good care of the car." It is a whole different story for him.