Having confidently completed both special stages, the Lithuanians secured the first place in the standings and became the leaders of the day.
Read more Antonelli beat Verstappen and «Ferrari» drivers in Monaco «Grand Prix» qualifying
Although Greece is usually associated with heat, the route chosen by the organizers served the athletes with extremely harsh conditions, more reminiscent of late autumn. The athletes completed the same 163-kilometer track twice, yet its specifics differed radically in the morning and evening.
“We will go to sleep as ‘Baja Greece’ leaders. I would highlight that today’s special stages were unique: driving the same track for the second time, it was absolutely different. Wet and slippery areas dried up and hardened. Meanwhile, areas that were initially hard later became rutted and covered with a fine, flour-like dust layer. We got completely different, interesting, and challenging tracks,” B. Vanagas, the Lithuanian who has started in Dakar the most times, shared his impressions immediately after the finish.
Narrow, unforgiving mountain roads demanded maximum concentration. Despite the mud and dust in the mountains, the crew maintained the leaders’ pace. Navigator Aisvydas Paliukėnas adds: “We managed to complete both the first and second special stages without major problems. In places it was quite slippery, in places there were dust clouds, but we managed to stay on the road. I think we showed a good time.”
Tomorrow’s crew tactics
Speaking about the leading position after the first day, Dakar legend B. Vanagas emphasized that the crew’s mindset remains unchanged – even with a tangible advantage over their rivals, they further increased their pace in the second run and confidently extended their lead.
Read more FC Baseball – about an impressive wedding where we performed: Lithuanians live «fantastically» well
“Tomorrow’s tactic is to win the special stages, because we also get points for winning special stages. And now they are especially important, considering that we did not finish in Spain. Tomorrow, less than half of the track remains, but it’s still 200 kilometers. You can’t write them off, because even 10 meters can change everything completely,” explains the Lithuanian who achieved the highest place in the Dakar car class.
Sunday awaits with the final kilometers and ultimate finishes. In the fight for victory, everything will depend on vehicle control and surgical driving precision.
FIA European Baja Cup
This year’s “Baja Greece” total route consists of as much as 800 kilometers (of which 550 km are special stages). These races have a dual status – they are simultaneously the third stage of the “FIA World Baja Cup” and the second stage of the “FIA European Baja Cup”. The “Gurtam Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics” team is tackling the race with the “Toyota GR DKR Hilux EVO T1+ Ultimate” car.
Read more June 7 horoscope: one Zodiac sign will shine today – others will have to pause
