Solving all tasks inevitably requires significant funds, so finding sponsors is always one of the key objectives. This year, the “Kelmės ASK” team managed to shake hands with the “NEO taksi” company, which committed to being the general sponsor for five years and carrying a slightly modified race name.
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Ingrida Savickienė, the chief architect of “NEO Rally Žemaitija 2026”, reveals when talking about these changes that the collaboration with the company, which has a three-decade history of operations (it was the first company to provide taxi services in Šiauliai), began quite unexpectedly, but later all matters proceeded enviably smoothly.
“Probably because in rallying, as in business, the most important things are the goal, the team, the route, and the ability to react instantly. When we met with Arturas, the head of “NEO taksi”, and discussed the event’s vision, values, and cooperation opportunities, it didn’t take long to understand that we perceive the most important things – quality, responsibility, and trust – very similarly,” says I. Savickienė.
In turn, Arturas Grublys, the head of “NEO taksi”, explaining the decision to join the motorsport community organizing “Rally Žemaitija”, stated that it was driven by the desire to be where people are united by a passion for technology, speed, professionalism, and responsible driving.
“Motorsport is a natural environment for us, as we work in the field of mobility every day, and cars are not only our work tool but also part of our identity. We chose “Kelmės ASK” and “Rally Žemaitija” not by chance. It is an organization and an event with a strong reputation, long-standing traditions, and an important place on the Lithuanian motorsport map.
It is important for us to cooperate with professionals who create high-quality events and strengthen motorsport culture in Lithuania,” says A. Grublys, who has himself tried several motorsport disciplines but never pursued a professional athlete’s career.
Asked if he was afraid of getting flak from marketing specialists for deciding to get involved in classic rallying when rugby and basketball are the most popular sports in Šiauliai, Arturas laughs, saying he fears nothing.
“On the contrary – I believe that strong brands should not limit themselves to only the most popular directions. Rugby and basketball in Šiauliai indeed have deep traditions, but motorsport can boast an incredibly loyal and active fan community throughout Lithuania. Moreover, our activities are directly related to cars, so a partnership with rallying is logical,” reflects A. Grublys.
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By the way, at “NEO Rally Žemaitija 2026”, it will traditionally be possible to try the “rally taxi” entertainment offered by retired professional racers – to take a ride in a sports car on real special stages. Asked if “NEO taksi” intends to include something similar in its list of services, A. Grublys assures that he prioritizes safe and reliable passenger transportation and car rental.
“On the other hand, it is clear that the world of motorsport opens up many interesting ideas and cooperation opportunities. Will there ever be special projects or entertainment initiatives for car enthusiasts? We never say ‘never’.”
However, if we were to undertake such projects, professionalism, safety, and a responsible approach would always come first. Motorsport provides an opportunity to learn from top-level professionals – from technical solutions to teamwork, process management, and safety culture. We can certainly apply these experiences in our daily activities.
Furthermore, it is important for us not only to expand the geography of our services but also to strengthen community ties. We believe that cooperation with motorsport organizations will help create new projects, increase brand awareness, and better understand the audience of car enthusiasts. And most importantly – to stay close to people for whom a car is more than just a means of transport,” explains the head of “NEO taksi”.
Interestingly, having decided to expand operations in all major Lithuanian cities, “NEO taksi” currently only transports passengers and does not plan to replace the “Dacia” cars used in “NEO Rally Žemaitija 2026” with “Lexus” taxi cars. On Friday, all 65 crews starting in the race are tackling administrative and technical commission procedures, familiarizing themselves with the track, and checking the settings of their combat vehicles on the test special stage. The race starts on Saturday.
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