PREVIEW: Malysz jumps at Dakar challenge as Peru joins the ride Von Jens Marx,

Dec 30, 2011, 12:50 GMT

Berlin - Adam Malysz will be trying to keep his feet, or to more precise, his tyres on the ground when he switches skis for the steering wheel at the 33rd Dakar Rally from Sunday.

The former ski jump star is more accustomed to flying through the air, but knows he can't afford any spectacular take-offs on the 8,373-kilometre trek though three South American countries.

'I hope above all that I reach the finishing line,' the 34-year-old said ahead of his debut in partnership with fellow Pole Rafal Michal.

'In the air I was always alone and here I have to work together with someone,' said Malysz of his prospects of racing in a Mitsubishi Pajero with his experienced rally partner.

The Polish duo are not expected to be a serious contender even though serial winner Volkswagen have pulled out of the traditional race which this year with Peru takes in the 27th country in the rally's history.

It is now the fourth time the Dakar will be held in South America, having moved to the continent after the 2008 rally was called off for security reasons.

German carmaker Volkswagen, after three successive victories with Race Touareg, have pulled out to focus this year on their world rally championship premiere with the Polo.

Nevertheless the rally over 14 days of racing through Argentina, Chile and for the first time Peru could still have a German flavour.

Germany's X-raid team is considered a big favourite and will have eight cars - five Minis and three BMW X3s - plus Stephane Peterhansel, one of the most successful drivers in the rally's history with nine victories, heading off on New Year's day from Mar del Plata for the new finishing line in Lima on January 15,

Frenchman Peterhansel, who has won six times on motorbike and three times behind the wheel, is accompanied by compatriot Jean Paul Cottret. Team-mate Leonid Novitzki of Russia meanwhile has the experienced Andreas Schulz, who accompanied Jutta Kleinschmidt and Hiroshi Masuoka to wins in 2001 to 2003.

Qatai Nasser Al-Attiyah, who last year clinched victory to seal Volkswagen's hat-trick, is out to defend his title, this time in a Hummer after a late deal to drive for the US Robby Gordon team.

'As far as the car is concerned I am starting from zero,' the 41-year-old said.

To race the Dakar rally, Al-Attiyah has decided to miss the first leg of the rally world championship in Monte Carlo with his new Citroen team a week after the Dakar.

'The thought of not doing the Dakar almost made me sick,' Al-Attiyah said. 'But things eventually turned around. It's fantastic because it's a new challenge for me and I'm proud of being able to represent Qatar.'

Lucas Cruz, who sat alongside Carlos Sainz during the Spaniard's 2010 Dakar win for VW, will be Al-Attiyah's co-driver.

Should Al-Attiyah win, he will be only the second driver after Ari Vatanen in 1991 to triumph on the Dakar in two different makes of car.

It will be a tough race for all concerned, with competitors facing among other challenges the mountains of the Andes, the Atacama Desert and the dunes of Peru in the final stages.

The competitors will comprise 171 cars, 185 motorbikes, 76 trucks and 33 quadbikes taking part in five stages in Argentina, five in Chile and four in Peru.

And former ski jumper Malysz, even without driving a single kilometre of the often dangerous terrain, has already realized what it means to take part.

'Everybody who reaches the end of the Dakar is a winner,' he said.