The Dakar rally will celebrate its 35th edition this 2013, and for the fifth time it will be held in South America. The rally will start on January 5th in Lima, Peru and will end on January 20th in Santiago, Chile.
This rally was born in 1977 in Europe, after Thierry Sabine got lost in the Lebanese desert decided to create a route that started off in Paris (France), crossed the Sahara desert and finished in Dakar (Senegal). Sabine described the experience as “A challenge for those who go, a dream for those who stay behind”.
From its very inception this event has looked to awaken the adventurous spirit of those daring enough to participate but also to provide an ideal scenario that allows people from all over the world to develop friendships.
It was traditionally celebrated in Europe and Africa, but this changed in 2009 when the organizers decided to move the event to South America due to safety concerns and held it on the deserts of Chile and Argentina. In 2013 this important event will start, for the first time, in Peru, which has caught the attention and excitement of locals that are getting ready to receive adventurers from all over the world this coming January.
Although participating in the Dakar rally is quite a challenge due to its extreme and risky nature plus the characteristics of the scenario it’s held at, it is, nevertheless, a unique experience, even if you are not participating as a racer. Spectators of this event have the one of a kind opportunity to witness this rally that will take them across the Atacama dunes and the Andes mountain range.
