Ignas Daunoravičius will race Dakar for a third time, but 2027 will be much different from his first two attempts. Instead of navigating in a decades-old rally car, he’ll be going fast on the saddle of a brand-new KTM 450 Rally Factory Replica.

Daunoravičius received his acceptance letter from the ASO, ensuring him a spot in the field for January’s race (provided he makes the trip, of course). He will compete solo in Original by Motul.

“Finally, what I’ve been waiting two years for has come true,” said Daunoravičius. “My big dream of competing in the Dakar Rally has been confirmed. Today, I received the email sayign I can participate in the Malle Moto category as a full-fledged rookie at the Dakar in 2027.

“I actually came up with this dream exactly two years ago. That’s when I started chasing it.”

Daunoravičius impressed in the last two Dakar Classics. He navigated for fellow Lithuanian Karolis Raišys in 2025, where they finished third overall despite racing the oldest and slowest car in the event. For the 2026 Classic, he joined forces with Compagnie Saharienne as the co-driver to Shammie Baridwan; the pair won a stage and placed seventh overall.

Between Dakars, he began doing rallies on a bike. Daunoravičius was 19th in Rally2 at the 2025 Rally-Raid Portugal and 47th in the Rallye du Maroc, while also scoring 15th in Enduro at Rallye Breslau. He returned to Breslau earlier in July and finished fourth, missing out on the Enduro podium to fellow Dakar Malle Moto entrant Justin Gerlach.

Featured image credit: Magnus Torquato / FOTOP / ASO