Aurum 1006 km: The Wildest Race You've Never Heard Of

A 10-hour endurance battle on the highways of Lithuania

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:20pm

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An abstract, sweeping image of a high-performance sports car blurred into vibrant streaks of color and motion, conveying the energy and chaos of the Aurum 1006 km endurance race on the highways of Lithuania.The Aurum 1006 km race transforms Lithuania's highways into a 10-hour endurance battle, with high-powered sports cars blurring into abstract bursts of speed and color.Today in Detroit

The Aurum 1006 km is an annual 10-hour endurance race held on the highways around the Lithuanian summer resort town of Palanga. Featuring everything from GT3 supercars to slower 'non-homologated entries', the race takes place on a 1.7-mile circuit made up of sections of the A11 and A13 highways, complete with barrel-mounted chicanes and a regular gas station for pit stops.

Why it matters

The Aurum 1006 km is a unique and little-known motorsports event that offers a glimpse into the history of racing on public roads. While most major racing events now take place on dedicated circuits, this event demonstrates how creative organizers can still utilize existing infrastructure to create an exciting and challenging endurance race.

The details

The Aurum 1006 km race has been held every summer since 2000. The course consists of a 1.7-mile circuit made up of sections of the A11 and A13 highways, with a U-turn and 270-degree interchange loop. The race features five classes, from high-powered GT3 cars to slower 'non-homologated entries'. Pit stops are made at a regular gas station, and there are barrel-mounted chicanes on the course. The race covers 1,006 kilometers (about 625 miles) and typically takes 10 hours to complete, with up to 60 cars participating.

  • The Aurum 1006 km race is held annually in mid-July.
  • The 2023 edition of the race will take place from July 15-18.

The players

Aurum 1006 km

An annual 10-hour endurance race held on the highways around Palanga, Lithuania, featuring everything from high-powered GT3 cars to slower 'non-homologated entries'.

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What’s next

The 2023 edition of the Aurum 1006 km race will be held from July 15-18.

The takeaway

The Aurum 1006 km race is a unique and little-known motorsports event that offers a thrilling endurance challenge on public roads, harkening back to the early days of racing. Its creative use of existing highway infrastructure and mix of vehicle classes make it a one-of-a-kind experience for both participants and spectators.