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Who is Kipras Aleknavičius, the only Lithuanian in F1 races?
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Sports

Who is Kipras Aleknavičius, the only Lithuanian in F1 races?

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Kipras Aleknavičius is the first and only Lithuanian to hold a FIA Super Licence, the highest level for officials in Formula 1.
  • Aleknavičius will work at two Formula 1 events this year and has prioritized the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race in Palanga, Lithuania.
  • His path to Formula 1 began unexpectedly when FIA selected him for a "High Performance" program after observing him for several years.

Kipras Aleknavičius stands as the sole Lithuanian to have achieved the FIA Super Licence, the pinnacle of official accreditation within Formula 1. This prestigious license is reserved for individuals actively working at the highest echelons of the motorsport world.

Such a license is issued only to people working in the Formula 1 championship.

— K. AleknavičiusExplaining the significance of the FIA Super Licence.

Aleknavičius is slated to officiate at two Formula 1 Grand Prix events this year: Barcelona and Spielberg, Austria. Despite his global commitments, he consistently prioritizes the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race in Palanga, Lithuania, where he will serve as race director. His dedication to this event is so strong that he has previously declined FIA WRC assignments in Estonia and European Rallycross Championship duties in Ireland to ensure his presence in Palanga.

If next year he does not get a job in Formula 1 races, Kipras says, his license would be one level lower – platinum.

— Article TextDetailing the conditions for maintaining the Super Licence.

His journey into the elite circles of motorsport officiating was serendipitous. Several years ago, Aleknavičius received an unexpected email from the FIA, informing him of his selection for the "High Performance" program, an intensive training course for aspiring top-tier FIA sports commissioners. Initially skeptical, he soon found himself among six participants globally, learning that the FIA had been monitoring his progress for three to four years.

At first, I thought it was some kind of joke, especially because after receiving the letter there was a long silence.

— K. AleknavičiusRecounting his initial reaction to being selected for the FIA program.

Through active participation in FIA training, seminars, and online testing covering ethics, anti-doping, and international sports discipline, Aleknavičius progressed. He successfully completed regional commissioner training for rallying, earning a "Distinction Level" certificate, which paved his way into the FIA "High Performance" program and ultimately, Formula 1.

Then we received an invitation to come, where there were six of us from all over the world, and our first non-random question was – why are we here?

— K. AleknavičiusDescribing the beginning of the FIA 'High Performance' program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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