Well that's awesome!
Photograph Courtesy Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook
I used to think that the Nurburgring 24 Hours was at the top of my bucket list for races I want to compete in that are actually attainable for the average enthusiast, but the Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook may have just usurped that crown.
What’s that? You’re not familiar with the Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook?
The Aurum 1006 km is—as you may have guessed from the name—a 1006-kilometer endurance race. Competition is open to FIA GT3, GT4, and TCR racers, but club-level GT cars, expired homologation cars and specially constructed silhouette cars are also welcome to race.
The race takes place in the Lithuanian resort town of Palanga at the Palanga street circuit. As soon as I wrote that, I knew exactly what your mind started picturing: You got visions of a downtown, twisty street course lined with Jersey barriers and sponsor flags.
Uh, nope.
The Palanga street circuit is constructed at the intersection of two highways, incorporating two entrance/exit ramps, some U-turns across the median, and a couple of three-cone slaloms to slow down cars and likely create chaos.
Fueling is done–naturally—at a gas station/convenience store located at the south end of the track.
Teams stop for fuel and Corn Nuts, and drivers needing to use the restroom must first obtain the key attached to a 20-inch-long piece of 2x4 from the attendant.
Jokes aside, this is a real-deal race despite the somewhat goofy layout. Last year’s winning team included Jan Magnussen in an AMG GT3, and several big-time GT3 teams usually show up to contest the event.
The Aurum 1006 km has been held since 2000, and until 2014, it appeared open to nearly any closed-wheel car, with stuff like Pragas and Radicals competing alongside many popular door slammers.
After 2014, it appears to have been contracted to just production-based or silhouette cars, but as fields grew, so did international interest.
Here's the official brief from the event organizers:
"It all started back in the year 2000, when for the first time Palanga - Klaipėda - Kretinga highway in Lithuania was temporarily transformed into a unique race track worldwide.
"From then to now, Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook has become an amazing race festival - one of the biggest events of its kind throughout Eastern Europe.
"Led by deep traditions and professionalism, this festival has received attention from well known drivers of Formula 1, GT or 24H Series, from all over the globe, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, USA, Australia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and others countries.
"Nowadays, Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook, is an essential event for Lithuanian Autosport industry, as well as for the country itself.
"It brings an abundance of international attention to the country and to the whole Baltic region. Alongside the main event, this four-day race festival accommodates many different sub-events such as 108 km Women Challenge, Drag Race, dB (audio) Drag, Memel Motor Fest and Auto Slalom for the slalom fans. This year more than 650 cars took part in one event."
It gets better, though, as the 2024 race takes place this Saturday, July 20–and you can watch the race live on YouTube.
Although everything will be in Lithuanian, the Aurum 1006 km should offer a fascinating spectacle.
I love it when motorsport breaks out of its usual, occasionally sterile boundaries and does something cool. The 1.6-mile Palanga circuit is like a Gran Turismo circuit brought to life, and who among us has never wondered, "How fast could I take this exit ramp in a GT3 car?”
Well that's awesome!
track map is an absolute banger
This is ridiculous in the best possible way!
JG Pasterjak said:track map is an absolute banger
There might just be a 'few' places in the USA which could do a similar layout. I especially love the clover leaf, but wouldn't have been great to have a similar course but use nnot just one leaf, but the whole flippin' clover itself?!? Man, if one could work that out, that would be so cool :) It reminds me of an AFX track!
Something like that could never happen in the USA. That track and race looks like an amazing time!
Noddaz said:Something like that could never happen in the USA. That track and race looks like an amazing time!
Nope. The safety freaks and the insurance companies would have fits.
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
Thank you, J.G., I just needed a few more minutes to recreate the map myself. 
And this race gives me old-school (like pre-war) Avus vibes:
With a course like that I think it needs some Rally entries with the likes of Travis Pastrana, Tanner Foust, or Scott Speed at the wheel.
Those u-turns would be glorious.
I've heard of street courses, but I haven't heard of highway courses. That's a way to use what you got.
Thanks for the story. Nice to see what Jan Magnussen has been up to since racing Corvettes in IMSA.
As stated above, it is reminiscent of an old AFX track.
As for something like that not being held in the U.S., I think it could. There are a handful of Open Road Races in desolate places like west Texas (Big Bend Open Road Race), Nevada (Silver State Classic), and Nebraska (Sandhills Open Road Challenge).
Plus, as reported in GRM, various Appalachian states are receptive to developing and promoting motorsports for the tourism dollars, so you never know.
Multiple links to other related GRM stories in the following link.
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