The 41st edition of the Dakar Rally kicked off with a symbolic start Sunday in Lima. The rally is taking place entirely in Peru on Jan 6-17.
This year’s race will be run on a new loop rally-route, with the start and finish in Lima. It will also traverse southern regions of Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna. Stage cities include Lima, Pisco, San Juan de Marcona, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna.
It should be noted this is the first time that the Dakar will take place in a single country. This year Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia all pulled out for reasons of austerity, leaving Peru as the sole host of the 2019 race.
This change is reflected in the reduction of the rally from 9,000 km over 14 stages in 2018 —when it went through Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia— to 5,000 km across 10 stages in 2019.
A total of 534 participants and 337 vehicles —bikes, quads, cars, SxS, and trucks— are to cover the 2019 route of this prestigious off-road race.
Tags: Dakar Rally 2019
