Dakar to include Peru to the route in 2012

Taking place for the fourth time in South America, the 2012 edition of the Dakar Rally will be traveling for the first time to Peru, besides the familiar terrain of Argentina and Chile.

The unveiling of the 2012 route confirms that South America will once again receive the most famous endurance event. The Dakar moved to the continent in in 2009 after the cancellation of the 2008 edition due to a tourist threat.

The 2012 edition of the Dakar has been enlarged to 14 days of racing, rather than the 12 in 2011. Argentina and Chile will receive five stages each, while the remaining four stages will be held in Peru.

"We re-find the route, the last that we designed, within 2007 in Africa and that was between Lisbon and Dakar. In this one we're going to go from Mar del Plata on the 1st of January to go all the way to Lima in Peru where we will arrive on 15th January. Between these two dates we will be hosted by three wonderful countries Argentina, Chile and Peru and this also means we'll have some wonderful special stages, with a ratio of five five four that's to say five sports stages in Argentina, five sports stages in Chile and four sports stages in Peru. Some racing every day and that includes the 1st of January and the 15th of January so again the prospect of having some really wonderful special stages in terms of scenery, difficulty and variety,” says Etienne Lavigne, Director of Dakar Rally.

Following tradition, the Rally Dakar will start on the New Year’s Day at the coastal city Mar del Plata, 400km south-west of Buenos Aires and will finish in Lima, Peru on 15th January.