Tractor Dakar starts in Lithuania for the first time

June 21. The „Tractor Dakar“ race will be held for the first time in Lithuania in Žasliai (Kaišiadorys r.), which will culminate in a spectacular celebration for the public, as well as the Midsummer bonfire that will be lit just before midnight.

These highlights, as well as the phrase „No farmers, no food“ repeated by the farmers, will unite the initiative of Lithuanian farmers to attract more attention to the countryside and the regions and to reduce the gap in understanding between the urban and the rural people.

„In the past, the farmer has been viewed in a rather stereotypical way, as not being active, walking around in muddy boots, and driving a tractor, often drunk. We are slowly but surely changing this attitude towards the farmer and the regions in general, so this event will be one of the ones that, I have no doubt, will make a city person look at the farmer differently“, says one of the organizers of the "Tractor Dakar“", a farmer Jolanta Grey (Greinienė), who, together with her husband Martynas Greinis, owns a farm in Kruonyje.

It is in the fields of these farmers that the Tractor Dakar will start. The 48 km long route will connect the farm of another organiser of the Tractor Dakar, farmer Dalius Matkevičius.

„He is, among other things, a practicing surgeon who saves lives every day“, – Jolanta Grey described her colleague, adding that „Tractor Dakar“ is not only a race, it is a message that is intended to be conveyed to the whole of society.

„Day in, day out, a farmer takes part in his own personal Dakar – whether it's looking after wheat crops in unpredictable weather conditions, or trying to balance the finances when milk prices are falling below the cost of production. His entire daily routine is a race against time and the fluctuations of the markets. We want to show people how that bread comes to their table and the Tractor Dakar is just to get the public thinking about all of this," said Jolanta Grey. 

Up to 30 crews are expected to compete in the first stage of the „Tractor Dakar“ (there must be two participants per tractor – an operator and a helmsman). T3 Speed class“ (tractors with maximum speed up to 40 km/h) The dimensions of the tractor must not exceed the dimensions specified in the Road Traffic Rules of the Republic of Lithuania, the total height from the ground must not exceed 4 metres.

The first „Tractor Dakar“ is sponsored by the clinic of oral, maxillofacial and jaw surgery MB „Praktinė chirurgija“.

General sponsors of the event are the leading agribusiness companies „Case IH“ tractor dealer UAB „Dotnuva Baltic“, „Massey Ferguson“ tractor dealer AB „East West Agro“ (EWA), and „John Deere“ tractor dealer in Lithuania UAB „Dojus agro“. The tractors of these sponsors will compete in the factory tractor class.

Participants will not be able to compete with tractors purchased with EU support, nor will they be able to use the so-called "green" diesel. Russian and Belarusian-made tractors are not allowed to compete in this race.

Tractors will be released every 5 minutes. You will need to find „chekpoints“ on the track and mark them. The course is safe, „non-breaking“ but interesting. Tomas Ramašauskas together with MB „Mobili medija“ will provide live video streaming of the course and will feed the footage to the screen at the finish line.

The health of all participants will be insured by „BTA draudimas“ and free refreshments will be provided by AB „Vilniaus paukštynas“. UAB „Sabelijos prekyba“ will offer special discounts of up to 30% on their assortment during the week before and the week after the event (from 16 June to 27 June).

In addition to the help of many companies, the municipalities of Kaišiadorys District and Elektrėnai, as well as the police officers of these administrative units, volunteers, the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, the Kaišiadorys TVIC centre and even the biker club „Aliens Lithuania“ are making a significant contribution to the "Tractor Dakar".

„There will be enough activities for everyone, both adults and children, who during the event will be provided with education about grain, innovative beekeeping, „Defender“ jeep performance, Irena Starošaitė and Žilvinas Žvagulis concert, Orestas and Džilda Vaigauskai, DJ Žiupsnis, and a lot of other various entertainments, competitions and games. There will be prizes from sponsors and partners. The event will be hosted by Žygimantas Skiotys, a farmer, professional event host and director of the Telšiai „Telšiai“ basketball club. Not to mention the participants and their machines. We have no doubt that this will be a great celebration, uniting both rural and urban people," Jolanta Grey said.

Information partner is the agribusiness portal „Agrobite.lt“ and the „Agrobite play“ channel on „Youtube“ network, which publishes „Tractor Dakar“ diaries.

Next stages of the Tractor Dakar are already planned for Žemaitija and other regions of the country.

For more information on how to take part in the "Tractor Dakar", as well as to register for the event, please visit www.traktoriudakaras.lt

Contact us:

Jolanta Grey (Greinienė) +370 655 68358, email agrodakaras@gmail.com