Dakar Rally convoy crosses border into Chile

Jan 7, 2012, 15:36 GMT

Copiapo, Chile - The Dakar Rally crossed the Andes into Chile Friday, although participants did so in a convoy after the sixth stage was cancelled due to bad weather.

'The border crossing between Argentina and Chile, at the Paso San Francisco pass, closed to the public by the authorities, has been specially opened for the rally caravan,' organizers said in the Dakar Rally website.

This is the first time in the three-decade history of the prestigious offroad race that a stage has to be cancelled due to snow.

'(This) raises problems in sporting terms and also frustrates the rally's riders and crews. However, this type of event is also part and parcel of life on the Dakar,' said race director Etienne Lavigne.

The stage was originally to take participants from the Argentine town of Fiambala to Copiapo in Chile with a 247-kilometre special. As things turned out, all 641 kilometres were non competitive.

'Due to the bad weather continuing over the Andes Cordillera, the Chilean authorities were forced to close, for the night, the border at Paso de San Francisco, situated at 4700 metres,' race organizers said on their website late Thursday.

Snow has been falling for days on the mountain pass, which is unusual given that it is summer in the southern hemisphere.

'In order to guarantee the security of the competitors and those following the rally, the organisers have decided to organise a convoy for all vehicles,' the statement said.

Rain had already led Dakar Rally authorities to delay and shorten Thursday's stage.

The prestigious offroad endurance race was to pick up again Saturday in Copiapo, Chile.

After five stages in Argentina, Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel led the car section of the race, followed by Pole Krzysztof Holowczyc. Frenchman Cyril Despres was at the top of the motorbikes' overall standings, ahead of defending champion Marc Coma of Spain.

The Dakar Rally is being held for the fourth straight year in South America. It took place in Africa from 1979-2007 but was moved to Argentina and Chile after fears of terrorist attacks in Mauritania led to a cancellation of the annual event in 2008.

A total of 469 vehicles - cars, motorbikes, quads and trucks - set out from the Argentine seaside city of Mar del Plata on January 1. Following 14 stages and more than 8,000 kilometres, including more than 4,000 kilometres of timed specials, the race is to end January 15 in Lima, Peru.