1006 km race: Participants aimed for track record

The "Super Pole" qualifying race, a key event of the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" event, concluded successfully on Friday, July 17, 2026. The 15-minute session featured the ten fastest teams competing for pole positions, with last year's champions emerging victorious and claiming the cup sponsored by the Minister of Transport.

Darius Jonušis, the organizer of the "Aurum 1006 km" race, commented on the high level of competition. "For the past few years, with the BoP system applied in the races, we often don't know who will win until the final laps. It's great to see that even in qualifying, which doesn't necessarily determine the final result, participants give their all and take risks. This creates a great spectacle for the spectators," he said.

Juras Taminskas, the Lithuanian Minister of Transport, thanked the organizer for his long-standing efforts. He noted that attending the races has become a family tradition for him. "Without the participants, there would be no event – they are the ones who create the emotion and connection. I wish them that the rain tomorrow does not prevent them from reaching the finish line," Taminskas added.

Karolis Jovaiša, driving for the "Bio-Circle & HSG by SWAG" team, recorded the fastest lap time of 1:05.753. Simas Juodviršis of "RINVEST by Juta Racing" finished second with 1:06.215, and Paulius Paškevičius from "Energija by RD Signs Racing" took third place with 1:06.869. Jovaiša described his drive as challenging, noting that his car began to slide after the sixth lap due to worn tires, but he managed to increase speed until the final lap as the track also improved. His time was close to the track record of 1:05.299 set by Denmark's Anders Fjordbach in 2024.

The main race is scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday, where participants will cover 373 laps totaling 1006 kilometers. Last year's winners completed the distance in 8 hours, 14 minutes, and 53.201 seconds.