Ten years ago, Karolis Raišis became the Lithuanian rally champion in the two-wheel drive class. He later switched to classic car racing and participated seven times in the prestigious Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. There he won two victories in the older car category with Jaguar and was on the podium several times.
Karolis Raišis is well known not only in Lithuanian motorsport, but also in the entire Baltic region. As the only certified Land Rover senior instructor in the Baltic countries, he often leads courses organized by the manufacturer’s representatives in Latvia and Estonia as well.
Eternal loyalty to the Defender
Raisis has remained true to his passion and has prepared one of the oldest cars for the competition – the classic 1978 Defender 109 Station Wagon, which is considered the predecessor of the Defender III.
“I chose this car because it was exactly with it that two French brothers participated in the first Dakar rally in 1979. I know their story. This is where the origins of Defender lie – the spirit of expeditions, adventure. It resonates with me since childhood. For me, a rally is a collection of experiences and emotions, a car is a means of creating memories,” Karolis Raišis explains his interest in exclusive, rare and historic vehicles.
The Defender is one of the most iconic British cars, spanning from the debut of the I Series in 1948 to the present day. In its history full of bright moments, there is no shortage of famous owners. Among them, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Winston Churchill and David Attenborough, who used the Defender on his nature exploration expeditions.
With its legendary off-road prowess, the Defender has created a legacy that continues to inspire and awe even decades later. In nearly 70 years, this model has gone through many updates, cementing its reputation for unstoppable performance. Modern Defenders combine off-road robustness with luxury, offering advanced mechanical and electronic systems, as well as a hybrid drive that meets modern requirements.
A return to the era of classic Dakar adventures
Only models that have competed in Dakar rallies from the first race to the cut-off year set by the organizers can participate in the Dakar Classic competition. Equipment manufactured no later than 2005 could be applied for the 2025 competition. Most participants opt for relatively modern vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruiser, which are faster and easier to drive. However, Karoli was not interested in these options, he wanted the journey to be imbued with the spirit of adventure.
“My idea is to revive the spirit of the first Dakar race – with adventure and wild driving. Back then, people would prepare for the rally almost the night before, and the balance between racing and preparation was completely different. They were looking for the unknown. In the era of high-speed internet and globalization, we always know what to expect. I want to bring back the feeling of uncertainty and an old car will do it perfectly. It can surprise, make repairs every night and give an unforgettable adventure,” Karolis Raišis describes his romantic view of the competition.
Race against time – before departure
Dakar Classic is a regularity race. The participants must cover the distance at the average speed determined by the organizers, and must reach the control points with precision to a fraction of a second. Penalties apply for arriving early or late, so the team with the fewest points wins.
Karolis Raišis knows this format perfectly and has achieved remarkable results in the biggest European classic car rallies. However, previously he drove a Jaguar on narrow and dangerous mountain roads, but in Dakar, a completely different kind of challenges await him. In addition to maintaining a certain pace, participants must orient themselves to the terrain and think about how best to overcome the difficult terrain.
Off-road tests and surprises that older equipment can bring do not scare athletes. In fact, he considers them part of the adventure. Karolis’ biggest challenge was to prepare the historic Defender for the rally. The copy he brought from Sweden with the modern Defender was drivable, but it needed a lot of work to get a good result.
Historic Defender restoration as a journey
When preparing the Defender for the tough conditions of the Dakar, the racer’s team did not miss a single aspect. During the restoration, while respecting the heritage, authentic details were provided and modern technologies were introduced to improve performance. This meticulous process reflected the team’s deep passion for classic cars.
Preparing the all-terrain vehicle in a limited time frame was like a rally in itself. Every detail reflects a deep love for the Defender and its history, and the team worked tirelessly to bring the car to life for the next chapter in its history.
“For me it is more than just a car – it is a part of history. And I also want to be a part of this history,” says Karolis Raišis about his 1978 Defender. His journey with the Defender began long before the rally raid and will culminate in a tribute to the car’s eventful past, where nostalgia meets the promise of new adventures.
The British adventurer brand Defender will be the official transport partner of the Dakar Rally from 2025, and from 2026 will participate in the world’s most difficult car race with its own team.