Baja Poland 2021: Benediktas Vanagas returns to the racetrack after half a year’s pause

Benediktas Vanagas is starting under the number 206 at the Poland stage of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas, which is due to start on the last weekend of this summer. The Inbank Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics driver returns to a rally seat after a pause of more than half a year.

After the Dakar Rally in March, B. Vanagas underwent right shoulder and wrist surgery. It was found in June that the race driver required further wrist surgery. A joint problem that emerged only during recovery forced changes to the entire season’s racing plans.

“This is perhaps the longest pause over my sports career of over twenty years. The main goal in Baja Poland is to return to a suitable sports form. Despite this, we will nevertheless look to create a tense, competitive environment for our colleagues,” B. Vanagas smiles.

The imminent Baja Poland is the seventh stage of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas. Team Inbank Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics driver B. Vanagas is starting alongside co-driver from Portugal, Filipe Palmeiro. The crew will be using the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux race car that already appeared in Dakar. The high (6th) starting position ensures that Benediktas Vanagas has been included on the FIA Cross-Country Priority Drivers list.

This is not the first time the team faces Baja Poland. B. Vanagas has already participated in this race, which is held in Northwest Poland, twice already in 2015 and 2019 alongside co-driver Sebastian Rozwadowski from Poland. While the crew appeared among the race’s leaders both times, the team has no finish marks in this race.

The race drivers are due to face seven stages and 770.04 km between August 27 and 29, of which 412 km are special stages. The rally will also see well-known drivers in Dakar participating, including Yazeed Al Rajhi, Krzysztof Hołowczyc, Yasir Seaidan and Miroslav Zapletal.

Source Media | Pitlane / Benediktas Vanagas