Ignas Daunoravičius had a good time in his first Dakar Classic as he and his driver Karolis Raišys finished third overall. The effort panned out so well, in fact, that Daunoravičius has received an offer to become a professional navigator with Compagnie Saharienne for the 2026 Classic. After that, he hopes to switch to the Dakar Rally in 2027 as a bike rider.

A professional drift driver and car builder by trade, Daunoravičius made his Dakar Classic debut alongside Raišys in January, where they drove a 1978 Land Rover 109 Series III similar to the one used by Maurice and Michel Calamel in the inaugural Paris–Dakar Rally. Despite some late power steering issues and being in one of the oldest cars in the field, they won the H1.A class and were third overall.

Compagnie Saharienne, who fielded five Toyota Land Cruisers in the Classic, was so impressed that they offered Daunoravičius a contract. For the 2026 Classic, he will call the shots for Shammie Zacky Baridwan in a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78; Baridwan will be the first Indonesian driver to compete in the Classic.

“It was like a thunderbolt in a clear sky,” Daunoravičius remarked to 15min. “I definitely didn’t expect an offer to participate in the Dakar as a salaried navigator. I can’t disclose the amount, but it will significantly contribute to my future plans.”

Those plans in question are a run at the 2027 Dakar Rally. If he can afford the trip, Daunoravičius hopes to compete on a bike in the Original by Motul subcategory. He told 15min that he had already bought a bike in advance and is training when he can.

Compagnie Saharienne’s highest finisher at the 2025 Classic was the Land Cruiser of Sanjay Takale in 18th overall and tenth for H1.B cars.

Featured image credit: Fabricio Macedo / FOTOP