Laisvydas Kancius, who participated in the Dakar four times with a quad bike and won the historic World Champion title, planned to go to this Dakar in a new capacity - to test the co-driver's seat in a car. However, the man from Klaipėda, who was supposed to ride in the same crew with Gintas Petrumi, faced personal problems that prevented him from going to Saudi Arabia. In any case, he does not promise to give up thoughts of returning to Dakar in the future.
In last year's Dakar, L. Kancius, who finished among the five fastest four-wheelers, received unpleasant news from the organizers of the competition shortly after the competition - it was officially announced that in 2025 the participants of this class will not stand at the starting line. However, the athlete who dreamed of participating in this race announced at the beginning of the summer that he plans to form a tandem with Gintas Petrumi and take the place of co-driver in the upcoming Dakar. This news confirmed the idea expressed by more than one expert that former participants of motorcycle and four-wheeled classes, due to their good orientation skills, may receive offers to be navigators.
"I was happy for the opportunity to return to Dakar, but I didn't have any experience as a navigator, I didn't know if I would be able to do it. Since there was a great desire, I decided to try," says Laisvydas Kancius.
Together with G. Petrum, Laisvydas won the Moroccan rally, which is considered a rehearsal for Dakar. Everything went well, but as the end of the year approached, it became clear that the man from Klaipėda would not be able to go to Dakar.
"This year, unfortunately, I will not be able to accept the Dakar challenge because I have personal problems. Nothing serious, but it conflicts with the Dakar calendar. Sometimes not everything depends on our wishes, plans or the work we put in", L. Kancius regrets.
He first reported this news to G. Petar and tried to help so that the vacant coxswain's chair would not remain empty. Also, L. Kancius is grateful to Gints for giving him the opportunity to taste the navigator's "bread", and to assess whether this could be a suitable perspective to continue participating in this sport.
Dakar Rally the start in Saudi Arabia is scheduled for January 3, and the finish two weeks later, on January 17. L. Kancius participated in this competition four years in a row, from 2021 to 2024. Also, in 2023, he is the first and only Lithuanian to become the World Champion of four-wheelers.
