Although B.Vanagas admits that this time is the “first time”, the strategy of the Gurtam Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics team remains coldly calculated.
Regional Logic: Why Do Locals Have an Advantage?
One of the biggest challenges at Baja TT Cuenca is the lack of practice riding in a specific geography. According to B. Vanagos, in the cross-country discipline, you drive from a “leaf” in the road book, so prior knowledge of the area provides invisible but tangible advantages.
Racer B. Vanagas emphasizes that memory plays an important role in such races: “In our discipline, you have to drive according to what you see. The crew does not receive advance information. But if you have participated before, you remember certain places whether you like it or not. This gives the locals a really considerable advantage.”
Understanding the specifics is a significant part of the result. B. Vanagas, who reached the highest place in the Dakar overall standings, emphasizes that one mistake can cost the result of the whole season. The competition in Spain and Portugal is the biggest in Europe, so every decision must be weighed.
“We cannot afford not to bring points. Therefore, we will have to dose the speed according to the situation,” the pilot mentions about a more cautious but wise pace.
Real tests – only after reaching Spain
After the Dakar marathon, the car is still being assembled – not all the details have reached the team’s base. B. Vanagas is open: the “Black Hawk” testing process will only begin after arriving at the location – it will be necessary to return to the maximum sports form very quickly.”
“The first part of the race will be a ‘acceleration’ process. We will have to understand the logic of the region at an accelerated pace and synchronize strategy and tactical actions here and now. Another reason is that in our country there are simply no suitable training grounds for simulating marathon conditions, so tests have not been a real option until now,” Dakar legend B.Vanagas comments on the situation.
How do navigators prepare?
“Baja TT Cuenca” will also be a new experience for navigator Aisvydas Paliukėnis, he has not raced in this region. However, in a rally, crew preparation begins long before the starting line.
“My preparation process is standard: careful analysis of documents and studying last year’s videos. It helps to understand the specifics of the track and what awaits us,” teaches A. Paliukėnas.
While B.Vanagas solves the logistical and technical puzzles of the crew, navigator A.Paliukėnas collects experience points in international competitions. Back in January, A. Paliukėnas took part in the Middle East “Baja” Cup, then followed the race in Qatar – the Middle East Rally Championship, and finished the race marathon in Jordan.
Aisvydas is currently in Qatar, where he is competing in the first round of the national championship.
FIA European Baja Cup
Baja TT Cuenca is one of the eight 2026 FIA European Baja Cup stages, with six credits. The crew of Gurtam TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Baltics starts with the Toyota GR DKR Hilux EVO T1+ Ultimate car.
