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Dakar SA

Route takes shape

On the occasion of the official presentation that was held late in the afternoon at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris, Patrice Clerc, President of Amaury Sport Organisation and Étienne Lavigne, director of the Dakar, have unveiled the main lines of the course of the next edition in the presence of Carlos Enrique Meyer, Argentina’s State Secretary for Tourism and of Jaime Pizarro Herrera, State Secretary for Sports of Chile. Returning from a series of reconnaissance taking place in both countries of South America that will be welcoming the Dakar for the first time, Étienne Lavigne gave out some information on the event that will take place from the 3rd to the 18th of January 2009.

On the vast Argentinean and Chilean territories, a large loop of 9 000 kilometres including around 6,000 kilometres of specials, will have to be covered by the competitors to reach Buenos Aires, start and finish place of the race. By first of all heading south towards the landscapes of Patagonia, the drivers and riders will then have to cross the Andes Mountains before enjoying a rest day at Valparaiso on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The return trip will then take them to the Atacama Desert and notably to the Argentinean provinces of Catamarca, of Rioja and of Cordoba.

The Dakar that has a vocation to discover unknown territories for off-road rally amateurs will cross over the Atlantic Ocean for its 2009 edition. The calendar has therefore been adapted in order to allow the shipping of the vehicles to Argentina’s capital: a first phase of technical and administrative scrutineering will take place on the 26th and 27th of November at Le Havre where the European vehicles will be boarded on ships. The organisers of the rally have announced the opening of the period to send registration files as of the 15th of May. During a month, the competitors that had registered for the 2008 edition of the Dakar will benefit from a priority.

An extreme adventure between two oceans

The Dakar 2009 is off to discover a new continent, South America that offers unlimited possibilities to amateurs of wide open spaces. The round trip to Buenos Aires, via Valparaiso is a challenge in which the most enduring competitors will find their way and have the opportunity to distinguish themselves. With close to 6,000 kilometres of specials and difficulties scattered on the whole course, the battle for the title will remain wide open until the finish.

ARGENTINA - A complete range

The extent of Argentina with over 3,500 kilometres from north to south gives the country the status of "other giant" of the continent. On a territory marked by the natural and cultural contrasts, the distances are always long: we are in the register of immensity. For the travellers, the amateurs of maps and more specifically those in love with off-road rallies, the study of the place sees new ideas spring up all the time. In Argentina, the competitors of the 2009 Dakar have the insurance of taking on an extreme endurance event.

While it isn't completely a "Tour of Argentina", the course imagined, taking off and heading back to Buenos Aires gives the bikers and drivers the opportunity to express themselves on all types of terrain. First of all heading south, those loyal to the rally will witness fast tracks with a lot of kilometres to cover as of the first days of racing. After having tasted the 'hard' part, the competitors will then discover the 'soft'. On the way back, several sandy stages will allow dune crossing experts to play their part. The crews that will make it to the finish will have visited a total of ten of the twenty-three provinces of the country: enough for the tastes of all.

The provinces travelled through

Buenos Aires - Federal capital
Buenos Aires province
La Pampa
Rio Negro
Chubut
Neuquén
Mendoza
Catamarca
Cordoba
Santa Fe

With a distance of close to 3500 kilometres between the Bolivian border and the extremity of Terra Del Fuego, Argentina has the aspect of a country-continent. Its dimension on the north-south axe as well as on the east-west line, gives the country several faces. On a climatic, mountainous and life style point of view, variety marks the many areas of Argentina. A welcome land for the Spaniards during the first waves of immigration in the XVIth century, and then for Italians, Germans and French attracted by the prosperity of the capital in the XIXth century, Argentina has through different periods invented a one-of-a-kind cultural model that the Europeans have easily acclimated to.

CHILE - Higher, stronger

Chile is also the kingdom of superlatives: one will find there the longest range of mountains in the world with the highest volcano; as well as the most arid desert on the planet and the highest dunes that can exist. Such a frame can only ideally suit the toughest rally in the world that first of all calls for adventurers eager for wide open spaces. It is with that approach that the competitors will head towards Valparaiso, where other travellers like Jack London or in the imagination of Hugo Pratt, the famous Corto Maltese have set foot.

Before enjoying a rest day on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the competitors will have to cross through the Andes Cordillera. This obstacle will probably force the race average speed to drop down. It will mainly give all unique images and memories. The energy drawn from these landscapes will anyhow be essential at the moment of entering the Atacama Desert. Having experience in dunes will be at least as useful as the ability to navigate. For the champions like for the others, there are serious risks of loosing minutes and hours in the Chilean sand.

The regions travelled through

Valparaiso
Coquimbo
Atacama

Long and slim. Chile's physiognomy, with limits stuck between the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Andes Mountains on the other, makes it one of the longest countries on the planet. With 4300 kilometres from north to south (close to a total of 5400 km of sea line!), Chile has no equivalent in the domain. On the other hand its width never exceeds 349 km and even drops down to around fifteen kilometres in the south. On this filiform territory all the types of climates are witnessed as well as depth. From the Atacama Desert, known as one of the most arid in the World to the top of the Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano on the globe (6893 m), Chile offers a wide range of different landscapes. Concerning encounters, the variety is also impressive: one can easily meet lamas but also Emperor penguins!

ALL THE DESERTS IN THE WORLD

We have crossed the ocean. The Dakar visits South America but doesn't however leave Africa. The rally was forced to move away from its base but its roots haven't moved. The links that were set during thirty years and the energy that has nourished the event continue to express themselves in the voyage that we are undertaking. The trip back which length will also be dictated by the geo-political context is, whatever happens, being prepared now. It is why the relations that we have with the African countries affirm themselves as a solid base for the event. Through regular visits, a permanent study of new options, the support towards the ''Six heures de Dakar'' (Six hours of Dakar) event but also the upholding of the Actions Dakar program, Africa remains at the heart of our concerns. The return of the Dakar will not be that of an unworthy son.

The challenge that we offer has changed setting. Its spirit is undamaged. Organisers and competitors, the men and women of the Dakar have, before all, the taste of discovery in common. They are captured by the simple and absolute beauty of landscapes and distinguish themselves by their open-mindedness. But most of all, they have a thrill for a demanding competition able to transport them in every different sense. In Argentina and Chile, we have the guaranty of finding the ingredients that make the alchemy of the Dakar. A real nomadic event with 21 African countries travelled through in the past, it has a vocation to explore the deserts of the world. We therefore start by places with evocative names: Patagonia, Atacama, etc. In the future, the world's biggest rally will also cross other oceans and travel through other continents.

The enthusiasm that we already feel from the next competitors of the 2009 Dakar answers the will of the Argentineans and Chileans that have shown an interest for the event for many years. Whether they are drivers who have already been one step beyond, partners with whom we have started working or 'aficionados' that have multiplied gestures of sympathy, we have already identified signs that don't fool us: in South America, one really has a special culture and passion for motorsports and extreme adventure. We are sure of meeting up.

Patrice Clerc, President of Amaury Sport Organisation and Etienne Lavigne, Director of the Dakar, have announced that the 2009 Dakar would take place in Argentina and Chile from the 3rd to the 18th of January. They promise an amazing course, a 9000 km loop including 6000 of specials between Buenos Aires, Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. The Dakar rally, the legendary event of the off-road rally discipline, will for the first time go to South America in 2009.

During the last thirty years, the race has forged itself a legendary reputation on the African territory that helped it grow and become one of the major events of the international calendar. The Dakar will know how to keep and maintain values and a unique spirit. A first choice sporting competition that mixes great champions and amateurs, the event has become extremely international throughout the years, uniting up to 52 different nationalities. Added to that, the Dakar gathers a state of spirit driven by a quest for adventure, open-mindedness and discovery. A nomadic event by excellence with 21 African countries visited during its history, it has the vocation to explore the deserts of the World and A.S.O. studies the possibility for other territories to welcome the Dakar.

While keeping an undamaged challenge, the 2009 edition has accepted the invitation of Argentina and Chile, countries with which A.S.O. was in contact for several years. The organisers were seduced by the discovery of territories where navigation, sand, and crossings will be on the menu. Argentina and Chile gather all the ingredients for a fantastic Dakar both in terms of the level of the varied topography and the splendour of the landscapes or through its infrastructures. The enthusiasm launched by the prospect of welcoming the event promises a great Dakar.

The registrations for this new challenge will start on the 15th of May 2008. The competitors registered for the 2008 edition will have priority and will benefit during a month from a similar tariff as this year’s one.

Dakar Rally goes to South America

While keeping an undamaged challenge, the 2009 edition has accepted the invitation of Argentina and Chile, countries with which A.S.O. was in contact for several years.

The organisers were seduced by the discovery of territories where navigation, sand, and crossings will be on the menu. Argentina and Chile gather all the ingredients for a fantastic Dakar both in terms of the level of the varied topography and the splendour of the landscapes or through its infrastructures. The enthusiasm launched by the prospect of welcoming the event promises a great Dakar.