The Lithuanian will once again get behind the wheel of the “Hyundai i20 WRX” and compete under the banner of the French PGRX team.
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This stage will be Rokas Baciuška’s second start of the season in the FIA European Rallycross Championship. Returning to rallycross after a six-year break, the Lithuanian not only recalled the specifics of this discipline in May in Riga but also immediately demonstrated a competitive pace – he recorded the best time of the day among all 30 RX1 class drivers in the third qualifying round and finished the weekend in the semifinal.
Now an even bigger challenge awaits – one of the most famous and most spectator-attended rallycross tracks in Europe.
The year 2026 is special for the Lohéac track – this year marks the 50th anniversary of rallycross. One of the most famous names in this sport, multiple world rally champion Sébastien Loeb, will also return to France. A total of 30 drivers are expected to start in the RX1 class, so Rokas will face a very strong grid full of top-class racers.
Lohéac stands out not only for its sporting level but also for its unique atmosphere. About 70,000 spectators are expected to attend the stage, making the French weekend one of the biggest rallycross events in Europe.
“I am really looking forward to Lohéac. It is one of those tracks that is much talked about in the rallycross world and always has a special atmosphere. About 70,000 people, full stands, 30 RX1 drivers, and many well-known names. And Sébastien Loeb is also returning to European rallycross. I think the grid will be really strong and a very interesting weekend awaits,” says Rokas Baciuška.
However, Rokas’s decision to add rallycross to his rally-raid program is not just about wanting to participate in another race. Baciuška’s main discipline remains rally raid, but the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship has 5 stages per season.
Therefore, rallycross gives the driver the opportunity to get behind the wheel much more often, maintain reaction and racing rhythm, and test himself in various disciplines.
In rallycross, drivers race on a closed track where asphalt and gravel change within seconds. Reaction, precise braking, car control, starts, position battles, and the ability to make decisions almost instantly are extremely important here.
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“The most important thing for me is time in the car. There aren’t that many rally-raid competitions, so rallycross allows me to drive more and train things that are important in any discipline – reaction, braking, car control, starts, quick decision-making. Everything happens very fast here. There’s no time to think long – you have to react immediately. For me, it’s a very good training and also a very fun challenge,” Baciuška says.
In France, Rokas will again compete with the same “Hyundai i20 WRX” and the PGRX team with which he started the first Euro RX stage of this season in Riga. At first glance, one might wonder why the same car and team were chosen, but according to the driver, it is not easy to find a competitive RX1 class car and a professional team for a single stage mid-season.
“At first glance, it might seem – why the same team and the same car again. But mid-season it’s not so easy to find a good RX1 car and a team for just one race. So we decided to continue working with PGRX. And I think in the case of Lohéac, this can be a big advantage because it is a French team and their home track,” says Rokas.
According to Baciuška, this factor can fundamentally change the situation compared to the first stage in Latvia. The PGRX team did not have much work with the “Hyundai i20 WRX” settings on the specific Biķernieki track before the Riga stage, so the right car balance had to be found during the race weekend.
“In Latvia, the track was new for the team. We didn’t have such a base of track settings, so we had to discover everything while driving – trying, changing, and looking for the set-up on the spot. Lohéac is their home track, so I hope we will have much more information and experience here. It will also be interesting for me to see how much we can progress when the team already knows the track well,” says Baciuška.
The Lithuanian is coming to France not just for another result. This season, rallycross starts are an opportunity for him to accumulate as much time behind the wheel as possible and prepare for other important races. Every additional race weekend provides a chance to work on car settings, learn from the team and rivals, and maintain top sporting form. And Lohéac is one of the best possible stages for that.
“I’m definitely not just going to participate. I want to drive, learn, and improve. Of course, I want a result too, but right now it’s very important for me to spend as much time as possible in the car and test myself against the strongest. I think Lohéac will be a very good weekend,” says Rokas Baciuška.
The fifth stage of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at the Lohéac track will take place on August 29–30. Rokas Baciuška will face 30 RX1 class drivers, including some of the brightest names in this discipline, a legendary track, a huge audience, and another important weekend aiming to spend as much time as possible in the racing car.
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