PREVIEW: Dakar Rally returns to South America

Dec 30, 2009, 16:58 GMT

Hamburg - The Dakar Rally takes place in South America for the second year in succession in 2010 with organizers hoping the 32nd edition of the world's most famous rally is as big a success as last year.

The 2009 off-road endurance race was moved to Argentina and Chile from North Africa amid fears of terrorist attacks and this year's event starts on January 1 in Buenos Aires, finishing 14 stages later in the Argentine capital on January 17.

In between, competitors will have to endure a 9,000-kilometre trek across the mountains and deserts of Argentina and Chile, crossing the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, San Luis and San Juan before tackling the giant dunes of the Atacama Desert and travelling through La Pampa.

A total of 138 cars, 50 trucks and 184 bikes and quads are registered to compete and while Giniel de Villiers claimed Volkswagen's first Dakar victory in a Touareg last year, the South African will be driving in a VW Amorak pick-up this time around.

Also competing in an Amorak for VW will be Carlos Sainz, who failed to finish while leading in 2009, and team newcomer Nasser Al Attiyah.

'Until now there is no number one,' de Villiers told the Dakar Rally website. 'Carlos Sainz wants the race as badly as us and so does Nasser. But the truth is that there is less pressure on us and more on them. It's nice to start as defending champion but the hunger is the same.'

China will have its first official team in the race courtesy of the presence of carmaker Chery. Ningjun Lu, who has raced in Dakar five times, will lead the driver lineup with Jiang Yaoheng as the other driver.

Although motorcycle manufacturer KTM has withdrawn its support at the Dakar Rally over engine restrictions for the 2010 event, the Austrian company will still be represented by private riders, including last year's motorcycle category winner, Spain's Marc Coma, and nearest rival Cyril Despres of France.

KTM will give both riders official support with a service truck.

'They might be able to limit the air intake of our KTM 690 rally engines with performance-limiting restrictors, but they cannot put a limit on our experience, our professionalism or our drive. We want to win,' said Depres.

Having won seven out of the last eight truck titles, Kamaz will once against start as favourites. Last year's winner Firdaus Kabirov will most likely face his toughest challenge from teammate Vladimir Chagin.