Vaidotas Žala


Vaidotas Žala is a Lithuanian rally and rally-raid driver. Žala is the Lithuanian Rally Champion winning the title for the first time in his career in 2019, driving for Agrorodeo racing team. In addition to participating in various classic rally events Žala has been participating in Dakar Rally since 2016 with his start in 2020 being his 5th consecutive start at the Rally-raid marathon. Žala is also the first and only Lithuanian to win a stage in Dakar Rally. Žala finished first in the opening stage of 2020 Dakar Rally.

Rally racing record

Rally Starts

Rally Victories

Championship Victories

Žala won Lithuanian Rally Championship title in 2019. Assisted by his co-driver Andris Mālnieks, Žala came first with his Škoda Fabia R5 in LARČ 1 as well as 4WD classes.

Dakar Results

Žala has been regular participant in the Dakar Rally since making his debut in 2016. Žala and his co-driver Saulius Jurgelėnas failed to finish in 2016 and 2017 due to mechanical issues with their Lithuanian-built prototype rally car based on Seat platform. Žala's best result to date is 12th place finish in 2019. In 2020 Žala made history by winning the opening stage, and thus becoming the first Lithuanian to win a Dakar Rally stage.