"The Tractor Dakar is on Saturday in Žasli. Spectacular festive programme announced

Today, farmers are slowly gathering for the first ever Lithuanian Tractor Dakar, which will take place tomorrow, Saturday, in Žasli (Kaišiadorys district), with the participation of the most well-known Lithuanian farmers and their unique machines.

The machinery is already being loaded from various parts of Lithuania and transported to the starting bivouac from where the race will begin.

The event is expected to attract several thousand spectators, as the whole programme includes primarily interaction between the public and the farmers, educational programmes for children and more.

Soldiers' porridge will be served by the Riflemen's Union. Trampolines and foam show and, of course, prizes for our little guests. This is just a small part of the festive programme.

„We are looking forward to welcoming everyone who is indifferent to Lithuanian agriculture and food production, which is an integral part of all our lives“, – says one of the organisers of the "Tractor Dakar" Jolanta Grey (Greinienė), adding that this is an opportunity for everyone to get to know people working in the countryside better.

„Factory class“ category will feature factory crews with new tractors, and they have been delegated to the race by „Massey Ferguson“ brand representative AB „;East West Agro“, „John Deere“ representing UAB „DOJUS agro“ and „Case IH“ brand distributor in Lithuania UAB „Dotnuva Baltic“.

Other crews, consisting of a driver and a driver's crew, will compete in the „T2 Turbo class“ (maximum speed up to 30 km/h) and „T3 Speed class“ (maximum speed up to 40 km/h) categories.

„Unbelievably, we had more entries than we expected. We will have as many as 32 crews, and among them will be faces familiar to the whole farming community," says Jolanta Grey (Greinienė), one of the organisers of the "Tractor Dakar".

The participation of the crew of „Barskuolė“ (Ukrainian tractor XTZ T-150K) (Artūras Vakarinas and Šarūnas Radvinauskas) in the „Tractor Dakar“, when at the beginning of the year the guys drove for a week through Lithuania and met crowds of fans everywhere.

Nerijaus Kudrevičius' and Matas Kudrevičius' XTZ T-150K skulls will look no more impressive than in „Ivanas“ or in Šilutė r. Gediminas Bardauskis's XTZ T-150K tractor, actually recycled by the farmer Gediminas Bardauskis, with a „Volvo“ tractor engine, combine harvester tyres, and a „Red Devil“ tractor cab, completely redesigned and rebuilt.

On the approximately 48 kilometres of track, the crews will have to make their way through four „checkpoints“. Finding them won't be easy, as the participants will only receive their road book just before the start. They will be released onto the track every 5 minutes.

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

The event is free of charge.

Event programme:

21 June 2025

In STARTO VIETA, Kaisiadorys r., Bačkonys k., coordinates 54.800600, 24.486320:

09.00-12.00 Registration of participants. Opening of the event

12:00 Start

14.35 End of start announcement

FINISH LOCATION, Kaisiadorys r., Žasliai mstl., coordinates 54.8775858, 24.5893939:

08.00 Opening of the tent city. Opening ceremony of the tented camping area.

12:00 Opening. Presentation of the event activities

All day:

Course commentary. Host Žygimantas Skiotys. Tomas Ramašauskas and „Mobili medija“ will be working on the track and will broadcast the action live from the track to a huge LED screen at the finish.

DJ Žiupsnis will entertain everyone

Food and beverage outlets (outdoor café, smoked fish, cheese, coffee, sweets, etc.)

Events and entertainment

Trading of event merchandise

„Sabelia's Trade“ will be offering its latest range of work and leisure wear for sale

Girl Promo Team will be in place

Exhibition of motorcycles of the motorcycle club „MC Aliens Lithuania“ and a delicious plov

Kaunas PGV Kaišiadorys Fire Rescue Service Programme

Defender familiarisation

12.30 Simulators. „Mototop“ quad bike show and ride

13.00 Show by the Rifle Association. Soldier's porridge. Briefing for Day X

13.30 Educational activities for the little ones:

„Happiness puppet“ – sensory activities with cereals;

„Diana's sweets“ – candy making education;

„Funny steam engine – drawing on faces“;

„Workshop for furniture and more“ – wooden games‘;

Batons and foam show and, of course, prizes for our little guests.

14.00 Helicopter and hot air balloon rides

14.00 „There will be honey“ – innovative beekeeping. Bee inoculation into the hive

15.00 Finish of the first Tractor Dakar participants and a thunderous welcome. Farmer's feast and cheerleaders. Free catering by „Vilniaus paukštynas“ and delicious bread by UAB „Brolimo“

15.30 Day group. Orestes and Džilda Vaigauskas

16:00 Photo mirror, 360 platform

17.40 Finishing line and thunderous welcome for the last Tractor Dakar participants

18.00–19.00 Results debrief. Preparation of the finishing tractors for the awards

19.00–20.30 Welcome speech. Awards. Mayors' Cups. Sponsors' prizes

21:00 Irena Starošaitė and Žilvinas Žvagulis concert

22.30 Midsummer bonfire

00.00 End of the event

Bring your own folding chairs, blankets, mosquito and tick repellent. Drink water. Sunscreen and raincoats for children. We will have a communal tent where you can sit on the hay „kitkas“ to shelter from the sun or rain.

Photographs and videos will be taken during the event and will be made public.