Benediktas Vanagas is a Lithuanian rally driver. Vanagas is one of the few racing drivers in the Baltic states who has achieved good results competing in various auto racing disciplines, such as rallying, rally raid racing, endurance racing and off-road competitions, though he most often competes as a rally driver. He is a member of the Inbank Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics. Vanagas still holds the record for the best overall result in a car class in the Baltics as well as for a Lithuanian driver. He is currently teamed with Estonian co-driver Kuldar Sikk.

The 2017 Dakar Rally was the 39th edition of the event and the ninth successive year that the event was held in South America. The event started in Asunción, Paraguay on January 2, then ran through Argentina and Bolivia, before returning to Buenos Aires on January 14 after 12 stages of competition. This year saw the introduction of the new UTV category.