All Dakar Classic competitors receive a goody tote bag that includes swag like a roadbook notepad, lanyard keychain, stickers, and a baseball cap with their number embroidered on the back.

Ignas Daunoravičius decided to give his bag to Aidas Bubinas, who auctioned it off with the proceeds going to Ukrainian relief efforts.

“When they start the Dakar, each racer receives a bag containing a hat and other toys from Dakar as a souvenir, so I would like to give this set to Aidas,” he commented on Friday morning. “First of all, he will hold the auction and all the money will go to support Ukraine. You bet you’ll get a one-of-a-kind hat.”

Bubinas is a motorcycle rider and filmmaker who has done cinematography for works like the cooking TV series Kvieciu Vakarienes and the documentary Kalniškė – lūžio taškas. He’s also occasionally dabbled in rallies, making starts in events such as the Balkan Offroad Rallye and Baja Poland.

Since September, he has been active in donating used rally tires to Ukrainian troops. In September, Dakar veteran Benediktas Vanagas supplied over 30 tires for Bubinas and his colleague Renaldas Gabartas to transfer to Ukraine, bringing them from Vilnius to the frontlines in their van. These trips have brought him to intensely contested areas like Kupiansk.

In the days leading up to Dakar, Bubinas began auctioning off race merch like notebooks and even a finisher’s medal. Kelio Knyga, a Lithuanian NGO, is overseeing the auctions.

Daunoravičius is navigating for Shammie Baridwan in the Dakar Classic, coming off a third-place overall finish alongside Karolis Raišys in the 2025 edition. He plans to switch to racing a bike in the 2027 Dakar Rally.

Featured image credit: Florent Gooden / DPPI / ASO