MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Dakar rally confirms next edition along the Pacific, Chile and Peru
Lima will host the start of the 2013 competition Dakar Rally’s organization confirmed that next year’s 35th edition of the world’s most famous race will also be the 5th to take place on the South American continent, which has hosted the event since 2009.
Thus, from 5th to 20th January 2013, the competitors will follow the route between Lima in Peru and Santiago in Chile, with a rest day planned at San Miguel de Tucumán in Argentina. The desert will be on the programme from the first days of the rally, for the first time in its history.
Several weeks ago, the riders and drivers on the Dakar discovered the Peruvian version of the desert. Struck by its splendour but also its technical demands, in this setting of sea and sand, they experienced a highly intense sequence before the finish in Lima. For the next edition, the Peruvian capital will play host to the start of the rally, with the promise of holding an exceptional challenge in store for those who take part; one that is simply equal to the test they have to face each year.
At the end of the journey, the rally will finish for the first time in Santiago. Chile, which, in the Atacama, has been the theatre to most of the unpredictable developments during the last four editions, will have the opportunity to celebrate the heroes of the Dakar in its capital city.
Over the thousands of kilometres that they will have to tackle, the competitors will distance themselves from the Pacific Ocean as the event is spiced up by a detour via Argentina. On the other side of the Andes Mountains, the variety of terrains will put all the competitors' capacities to adapt to the test.
Registration will open for all the categories (bikes, quads, cars and trucks) on 15th May.
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Read all commentshmmm interesting, did it not used to start in Buenos Aires, then Mar Del Plata? Its almost as if the organisers want to avoid Argentina as much as they possibly can!
Mar 23rd, 2012 - 02:06 am 0I wonder why...
looks like they only put the RG dogleg in to bulk up the mileage..... then again it may be because the run from BA/MdP to the Andes is as boring as bat shit....
Mar 23rd, 2012 - 02:30 am 0Officially, the last rally opened the eyes of organisers and competitors to the Peruvian desert, its magnificence and technical demands.
Mar 23rd, 2012 - 09:45 am 0Nope! Lima, its wonderful people, super organisation and lower costs stole the show – in addition the board members at the Dakar and lots of other events have more than a fair share of Europeans that do not like Black Queen CK.
Organisers and those competing were so happy to start in Buenos Aires a few years back. But then ‘Argenrot’ (that’s a term given to me by the Capitan of our team) started, it always does, exploitation, every cog mustering its might to take every last centavo off the table, the City of Buenos Aires being at the rotten epicentre.
Every preferred provider wanted its 'pound of flesh' and more, and more, and competitors started to complain about high costs and very poor services, which when combined with Argentina's organised chaos made a move a wise choice - even the Argentine team we sponsor for charity is pleased to say goodbye to Argentina. The doors been left open with a sleepover – but BA, wave goodbye to the Dakar gravy train until you learn how to behave – not really possible in Spanish Italy since the 1880s.
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