RB Becomes the New Main Sponsor of the Lithuanian Karting Championship

With just one week left until the RB Lithuanian Karting Championship begins, the first stage will take place at the Anykščiai karting track from April 21-23. The new season, marking the start of the seventh decade of this sport in Lithuania, promises to be exciting, with cooperation between Latvia and Estonia bringing new track innovations. Lithuanian racers will compete abroad, while Latvians and Estonians will race in Lithuania, providing a great opportunity to see who is the fastest among the neighboring countries.

Participants in the Lithuanian Karting Championship will have an extra motivation to outpace their neighbors, as KZ2 class drivers will get the chance to race against World Rally-Raid Champion Rokas Baciuška. Known as RB in the racing world, the 23-year-old Lithuanian motorsport star becomes the new sponsor of the Lithuanian Karting Championship.

Aiming to Inspire and Set an Example

"My story in motorsport also began with karting. My first major achievements in childhood and my first serious victories in my early youth were in karting races. Naturally, as I continue down the path of motorsport success, I want to encourage and inspire all participants. I believe I can do this personally by attracting not only more attention but also partners, organizing entertainment, and offering exciting prizes," says Rokas Baciuška, the new partner of the Lithuanian Karting Federation.

Interestingly, Baciuška’s decision to support young athletes in their karting pursuits is not unique. In motorsport, even karting, similar collaborations are common. For example, Italy hosts the "Trofeo Andrea Margutti" races, which have been running for 34 years and are prestigious across Italy, with many F1 drivers having participated.

"The idea is great because Rokas is the only driver in Lithuanian history with a world champion title. We hope this collaboration will be beneficial for both parties: Rokas is truly an inspiration not only in Lithuania. For our growing generation of champions, this will be a unique opportunity not only to see Rokas at events but also to try racing against him. After all, the careers of the vast majority of the world's top racers started with karting," says Karolis Šikšnelis, President of the Lithuanian Karting Federation.

Karting Races – A Great Training Ground

Although Baciuška’s racing calendar has been extremely busy in recent years, he has gladly participated in the stages of the Lithuanian Championship. For Rokas, it's a great opportunity to maintain his competitive form, while for his KZ2 competitors, it’s added motivation to perform their best.

Rokas Baciuška will miss the first stage of the RB Lithuanian Karting Championship due to his participation in the third World Championship stage in Mexico. However, he is expected to be seen either as a competitor or a guest in future stages in Šiauliai in May, Aukštadvaris in June, Kuršėnai in July, and Vilnius in September. 

"For me, participating in this year's Lithuanian Championship will be more of a training experience due to my tight schedule and participation in the World Rally-Raid Championship. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend all the stages. But I can say that our karting drivers are very fast: the past few years have proven that nobody gives me any breaks, and fighting for a spot on the podium requires full effort," guarantees the world champion.

In 2023, the RB Lithuanian Karting Championship will consist of six stages, one of which will take place in Riga, Latvia. Additionally, three "Baltic Cup" events are planned, with one held in Lithuania. At the end of the season, all category winners will receive impressive prizes. The main sponsor, R. Baciuška, will invite the 1st-3rd place winners to an exclusive event – "Master Class with the World Champion," which will include a session with his racing vehicle, a motivational seminar, and a ride in Rokas' buggy with photos capturing the moment. Moreover, OK, OK Junior, and KZ2 category winners will receive an opportunity to compete in races in Italy, courtesy of LKF and their partners "Energy Corse." The sponsor will provide the chassis, engine, tires, and fuel, with the drivers only needing to cover travel and accommodation expenses. For the first time in LKF history, 2nd and 3rd place finishers will receive cash prizes. 

Many stages this year will span two days. In addition to the championship and cup races, "Rotax Max Challenge Lithuania," "Baltic Karting Academy," and "Retro" class community competitions will also take place, with races on both Saturday and Sunday. 

The first stage of the RB Lithuanian Karting Championship is set to kick off next week, while karting race ambassador Rokas Baciuška will be competing in the "Sonora Rally" in Mexico in April, where he will aim to maintain his lead in this year's World Championship.