Vaidotas Žala, the winner of this year’s Dakar Rally in the truck category, states that the biggest challenge in this sport is not speed, but the ability to maintain focus, energy, and a cool mind for two weeks. According to the athlete, Dakar resembles a marathon more than a race, and success is often determined not by a single good decision, but by thousands of correct choices throughout the entire distance.
Therefore, according to the racer, the highest results are determined not only by preparation on the track but also by daily decisions off-track – from nutrition to energy sources that help maintain focus and endurance throughout the marathon. This approach was one of the reasons why the Dakar champion decided to start cooperating with a natural energy drink.
The Marathon Drains the Inner Battery
“Dakar is like a marathon because for two weeks every day you spend from six, seven, and sometimes up to ten or twelve hours on the track. Those long days are a test of human endurance – every day you wake up, do the same thing, and your inner battery slowly starts to drain,” says V. Žala.
Over two weeks of Dakar, athletes have to cover about five thousand kilometers of special stages. According to V. Žala, the length of the race and the constant accumulation of fatigue become the greatest challenge.
“If classic rally competitions last a day or two, then in Dakar, you have to maintain concentration for two weeks. During this time, it is enough to make one mistake – to miss a pothole or a cliff somewhere – and you can end a project very unexpectedly and unhappily, for which you prepared all year and in which you might have already driven several thousand kilometers,” the racer explains.
The Second Half of the Race is Most Difficult
According to him, the second half of the rally becomes the most difficult, when the fatigue curve has already reached its peak, and the finish line is increasingly approaching. In such moments, according to the racer, the cost of a mistake is even greater.
“Fatigue accumulates and increases, so the second part of the marathon is both more difficult and more dangerous. The last special stages are the most challenging in terms of concentration, as each day adds its own little bit to the accumulating pile of fatigue, which is greatest after two weeks,” says V. Žala.
Choosing Energy Sources Responsibly is Important
According to V. Žala, to achieve top results in motorsport, it is not enough to drive well – taking care of one’s body is equally important. In preparation for Dakar, attention to nutrition and energy sources became one of the highest priorities. V. Žala mentions that his team even brings a dedicated person responsible for the crew’s nutrition.
“A few years ago, I shifted my focus to quality bodily support, and one of the most important things is what you drink and eat,” he says. “We are probably the only Lithuanian team that brings a person responsible for food preparation to the races. If you look at yourself as an instrument that must function at an optimal level at all times, your priority is to responsibly choose your energy source. Perhaps taking care of it is not always easy or cheap, but at the end of the day, it can be a decisive part of success.”
Partnership with a Natural Energy Drink
When choosing food products, the athlete always prioritizes product quality and composition. This approach was one of the reasons why the Dakar champion decided to start cooperating with the natural nootropic energy drink „alife”. According to the racer, when choosing partners, not only brand recognition is important, but also whether the product aligns with his own values and daily habits.
“It is very important to me that this is a natural energy drink. It contains no added sugar, and natural caffeine from guarana extract provides sustained energy. I have tried drinks with artificial ingredients and really disliked that short, sudden energy effect. You don’t need an effect for one or two special stages or a couple of turns – you have to tirelessly work towards your goal, and only at the finish do you reap the rewards. Consistency and long-term endurance are the main success factors in our sport, so we need ingredients that work reliably and for a long time,” says V. Žala.
United by the Slogan „For a Long Time and Enduringly”
Laimonas Blažinskas, head of „Kauen craft,” the company producing the nootropic energy drink, notes that the partnership with V. Žala was determined by a shared perspective on energy, endurance, and long-term results.
“We were looking for a person who would naturally embody what „alife” believes in. What inspires us most in Vaidotas’s story are not just victories, but discipline, consistency, and the ability to maintain the highest level for a long time. Dakar perfectly shows that the most important thing is not a momentary breakthrough, but the ability to consistently move towards the goal,” says L. Blažinskas.
According to L. Blažinskas, the partnership will include communication campaigns, appearances at events, joint content on social networks, and visibility during the rally season.
“Both in sports and in everyday life, the most important results are not born overnight. They are determined by consistency, endurance, and the ability to maintain one’s rhythm even when the road to the goal is still long. It is precisely this approach that our slogan ‘For a long time and enduringly’ symbolizes,” states L. Blažinskas.
