One of the biggest prize packages in national-level rallying will be paid out for the second year running after the Lithuanian Automobile Sport Federation renewed its commitment to supporting emerging talent.

The FIA Member Club has announced the continuation of the Lithuanian Rally4 Trophy, which hands the winner a scholarship worth €80,000 to put towards a campaign in the FIA Junior ERC Championship the following season.

Markas Buteikis is preparing to contest the six-event Junior ERC in 2026 driving a Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF for MS Munaretto having become the inaugural Lithuanian Rally4 Trophy winner in 2025. The 20-year-old prospect got the better of fellow rising Lithuanian star drivers Klaudas Bučinskas, Irmantas Buivydas and Aras Kvedaras during a final-stage showdown last autumn to land the dream prize.

“Last year, we created something truly special for the Lithuanian rally community,” said Darius Šileikis, chair of the Lithuanian Automobile Sport Federation’s rally committee. “In a very short period of time, seven youngsters joined the project and delivered an incredible spectacle for our fans. This year, project enters a new stage – after an 11-year break, we will once again have Lithuanian representatives competing across the entire ERC season. We can already see here the growing culture of Rally4 cars. The younger generation is already testing them with the goal of one day competing for the biggest prize in the history of Lithuanian motorsport and making their debut on ERC. I believe this is only the beginning of a new story.”

While Buteikis gets set for next week’s Junior ERC season-opening BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, four drivers will bid to follow in his wheel tracks. They are Irmantas Buivydas, last year’s runner-up, Saimonas Daudžvardis, Erikas Valkeris and Lithuanian Rally4 Trophy newcomer Majus Masonas.

All competitors use FIA-homologated Rally4 category cars, identical Pirelli tyres and 98-octane fuel. Eldorado, Jusema, Humbility, One Racing Shop, Pirelli and Lithuanian Automobile Sport Federation continue as the main partners behind the lucrative prize package, which covers the cost of car rental, entry fees, tyres, fuel and other essential items on four Junior ERC events in 2027.

The 2026 Lithuanian Rally4 Trophy will run alongside the Lithuanian Automobile Rally Championship, which features six high-speed gravel events and began with Rally Aukštaitija from 15 - 16 May. ORLEN Lietuva Rally hosts the season finale in October.