Argentina and Chile will host the 2009 Dakar Rally between January 3 and 18 with Buenos Aires as the start and finish city, organisers said on Monday.
The move comes after the 2008 edition of the event was cancelled for the first time since its inception in 1979 due to security concerns after four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania on December 24.
The 2009 rally will feature 6 000km of special stages over a 9 000km-long course, details of which are set to be unveiled in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
”Signing-up priority will be given to the Dakar 2008 competitors,” said Etienne Lavigne, director of the Dakar Rally.
Competitors will be able to sign up for the South American adventure from May 15, and for those coming from Europe, vehicle shipping by boat will be done at end November-early December, the trans-Atlantic crossing lasting three weeks. — AFP
