This year, participants in the Lithuanian autocross championships have already competed in Plungė, Gargždai, Aizkraukle in Latvia, Kupiškis, and Ukmergė. Five completed stages in some classes have already highlighted the favorites, but in others, the athletes are separated by just a few points. Therefore, Pačeriaukštė awaits not only the fight for the sixth stage awards but also very important points in the annual standings.
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On Sunday, athletes will face the 980-meter-long Pačeriaukštė autocross track. Its width varies from 12 to 22 meters in different places. The starting zone is asphalted, but most of the track consists of gravel and clay surfaces. Different grip levels, wide and narrower track sections, and a large number of participants should ensure what spectators come to autocross races for – close battles, slides, contacts, and position changes right up to the finish line.
Additional intrigue is provided by the fact that Pačeriaukštė is the home track of the Biržai car sports club, and the hosts are currently fighting for first place in the team classification of the Lithuanian autocross championships. After five stages, the Kupiškis automoto sports club leads with 357 points. Biržai ASK has 355 points and trails the leaders by just two. In third place with 258 points is “Ekrosas.” So the home stage will give Biržai athletes a chance to try to take over the leader position in the team classification.
In the “Junior 1600” class, six athletes are registered at Pačeriaukštė. In the annual standings, Erikas Brazdžionis leads, having scored 102 points over five stages. In second place with 87 points is Domantas Stapulionis, and third is Matīss Zvaigznītis with 73 points. In this class, both athletes occupying the first two positions represent Biržai ASK, so the home stage will be doubly important for them.
One of the largest classes at Pačeriaukštė will be the 1600 class, with ten athletes registered. Here, Marius Bakūnas leads the Lithuanian autocross championship standings with 120 points. Antanas Liubinas has 105, and Mindaugas Juškauskas, in third place, has 99 points. So the entire top three is separated by 21 points, and the large number of participants means that one failure can cost not only the stage result but also many points in the overall standings.
In the 2000 class, nine athletes are registered. Here, Ričardas Jakimavičius has built a very solid lead. He is the only one among this class’s participants to have already surpassed the hundred-point mark, having 140 points. A much tougher fight is happening behind him – Latvian Jānis Graudiņš, in second place, has 85 points, and Nerijus Baikauskas has 83. They are separated by just two points.
In the “Super 2000” class, four athletes are expected at Pačeriaukštė. In the annual standings, Vytautas Laužikas leads with 120 points. In second place with 62 points is Justinas Mikalauskas, and just two points behind him is Toms Freimanis with 60 points.
In the rear-wheel-drive 3000 RWD car class, five participants are registered. Here, the clear leader is Latvian Raitis Gusevs, who has scored 133 points. Second place with 67 points is Aurimas Jonaitis, and in third place with 57 points is Lukas Kildišius.
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In the 3500 OPEN class, four athletes are registered, and this is where one of the most interesting situations in the annual standings has developed. The leader Aleksejs Brokāns has 30 points, Dalius Valiukas has 27, and Oskars Černevskis has 26. So only four points separate first and third places. This class will also feature some of the most powerful vehicles of the entire day for the spectators.
The “Folkrace” participants should also offer plenty of action. In the “Folkrace 1600” class, seven athletes are registered. The leader Antanas Kvekšas has 91 points, Deividas Laucius has 79, and Erikas Čiužas has 78. Only one point separates second and third places, so every position gained here can have a direct impact on the annual ranking.
In the “Folkrace 2000” class, seven participants are also registered. The standings are led by Andrius Gudonis, who has scored 86 points. Second place is held by Latvian Aigars Avsjukovs with 74 points, and third is Tadas Bendaravičius with 62 points.
In the all-wheel-drive “Folkrace AWD” car class, two participants are registered at Pačeriaukštė. In the annual standings, Karolis Motuzas leads with 55 points. Mindaugas Murauskas has 48, and Karolis Valančius has 47 points. There is only an eight-point difference between first and third places.
The race day at Pačeriaukštė will start early. From 6 a.m., participant registration and technical inspection will take place, at 8 a.m. a drivers’ meeting is scheduled, and at 8:20 a.m. free practice will begin. The first qualifying run is scheduled for 10 a.m. Later, athletes will face qualifying battles and final runs, after which the best will step onto the awards podium. A spectator ticket will cost 7 euros.
More than fifty participants, duels between Lithuanian and Latvian athletes, very small point differences in some classes, and the Biržai ASK’s opportunity to take the leader position in the team classification on their home track promise an intriguing autocross day. The gravel and clay surface of Pačeriaukštė usually does not forgive mistakes to the athletes, so on Sunday, not only speed but also the ability to avoid incidents and technical problems will be important here.
The Biržai stage will be the penultimate one in this year’s Lithuanian autocross championship calendar. The season finale will be held on September 6 at the Getautė track, where the final winners and prize-winners of the 2026 championships will be revealed.
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