Dakar: 2009 Goes to Argentina and Chile

[Plex]

Hot on the heels of the Central European Rally announcement a few days ago, organisers of the annual Dakar rally have revealed plans to hold next years event in South America.

Due to geopolitical issues and a terrorist threat, the 07/08 Dakar was cancelled. This event has now been replaced by the Central European Rally for 2008 which will be staged in Romania and Hungary from the 20th to the 26th of April.

The organisers must not be getting much sleep of late as they now have two quite different events to prepare for over the next 12 months.

Although full details have not been released as of yet, rumours are circulating regarding the route for the South America event. South America is a hugely diverse continent, the Andes mountain range stretches all the way from the southern Patagonian plains northwards past the equator to the lush Amazonian rainforest. Chile and Argentina are hot favourites due to their relative stability. Whichever route is decided on, we will be guaranteed that the teams, vehicles and drivers alike will all be exposed to a new set of challenges. We are sure they will be up for it. Currently the event is scheduled to run from the 3rd to the 18th of January 2009.

Press Release

The Dakar rally will take place in Argentina. Etienne Lavigne, director of the historical race, announced that the 2009 edition will take place in Argentina and Chile on a 9000 kilometres route starting and arriving in Buenos Aires. 'Competitors for Dakar 2008 will be able to register from 15 May to the Argenitna-Chile Dakar 2009, fees will be the same as lastr year,' said Lavigne. 'To start again in a new continent is great news,' said Dominica Serieys, director of Mitsubishi Motorsport. 'It was necessary to have a break in Africa because of the geopolitical situation.'

The organisers will present tomorrow the details of the race, which is scheduled between 3 and 18 January 2009. According to rumours, the pilots will leave from Buenos Aires toward southern Argentina and Patagonia, then Chile followed by the Atacama desert, and finally Buenos Aires again. In total there should be 9-10 legs in Argentina and 5 in Chile.

Worldcarfans