“Sunny day, sunny morning,” Ernestas Česokas started, “and the Dakar is coming to the government.”

No, this isn’t an impending invasion of Vilnius by Senegal.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and her cabinet welcomed Lithuanians who raced the Dakar Rally or Classic in January. It was the first time the Lithuanian government recognized Dakar competitors.

Rokas Baciuška, Vaidotas Žala, and Karolis Raišys received Order for Merits to Lithuania for respectively winning the Stock and Truck categories and Dakar Classic, as well as social benefits totaling €5,920. Funds for these awards were allocated from the Chancellory’s budget and approved by the cabinet.

Baciuška and his fellow Lithuanian rally raiders had met with Ruginienė before Dakar in December, where they discussed creating a financial award system to recognize them for their contributions to Lithuania’s international sports presence. He expressed his surprise that the award was already being offered so soon. Karolis Ramoška, head of the Lietuvos techninio sporto federacijų (Lithuanian Technical Sports Federation), was a strong advocate for the program.

“This is not just a symbolic recognition,” Baciuška said. “For the first time, a solid step has been taken so that racers who finish at the top can also claim financial bonuses.”

Česokas (finished 21st in SSV as Mindaugas Sidabras’ navigator), Nerimantas Jucius (fifth in Rally2), Dovydas Karka (13th in Rally2), and Saulius Klevinskas (33rd in Rally2) also attended the ceremony and were given letters of appreciation.

Ruginienė also promised to attend the UIM F2 and F4 World Championship rounds in Klaipėda. Ramoška is the head of Lithuania’s powerboat federation.

“When we met most of you last December, before the Dakar Rally started, we were impressed by both your determination and your calmness, which obviously came from the many hours you put in to prepare for the start,” stated the prime minister at the event. “In the end, this turned into excellent results and a new, honorable page in the history of Lithuanian motorsports. I sincerely congratulate you and wish you all many more impressive victories.”

Featured image credit: via Ernestas Česokas