Buenos Aires: The Dakar Rally roared out of Buenos Aires with a ceremonial parade of hundreds of vehicles from its famed Obelisk on Saturday.
The 16-day trek will take drivers 9,500 kilometres across northern Argentina, through the Andes, the Atacama Desert of Chile and back to the Argentine capital. The first leg was a 370km cruise northwest to Victoria, where competitors prepared for yesterday's first full race day. Defending champions Carlos Sainz in the cars category and Cyril Despres on a motorcycle return to defend their titles.
A record 430 official starters were listed, up from the 362 who were enrolled last year. The actual number starting the race is always lower, but is also expected to be a record.
The largest increase is in the bike category, where 183 were registered to start - up from 151 a year ago.
Atacama Desert
This year's route goes northwest from Buenos Aires, with the racers crossing into Chile on Wednesday. Participants then head north through the Atacama Desert and on Friday are expected to reach Arica in the far north of Chile, on the border with Peru.
The race then turns south and crosses back into Argentina on January 12. It ends four days later in Buenos Aires.
The rally was always in Europe and Africa until the 2008 race was cancelled because of terrorist fears. Then it was moved for security reasons to South America.
Sainz, in a Volkswagen, may get his stiffest challenge from team-mate Nasser Al Attiyah. Stephane Peterhansel, who led much of the race a year ago in a rival BMW, was also a favourite in cars.
"I would never underestimate the toughest race in the world," said Sainz, a two-time world rally champion. "But I am motivated to win the thing."
Frenchman Despres expects his toughest challenge from Marc Coma of Spain, the 2009 champion, and Francisco Lopez of Chile, who was third a year ago and should face pressure to win at home.
"Being able to finish third in the last Dakar was a great reward but it does not mean the pressure is on for this year's edition," Lopez said.
Next edition
"This said, those around me expect a lot from me. That is true."
Argentina tourism minister Enrique Meyer said he hoped to soon announce the event would return in 2012. He said Argentina was "80 per cent" sure of getting the next race.
The rally is run in the middle of the South American summer, a highlight for school children on vacation. Temperatures on Saturday were in the mid-30 degrees Celsius with thousands lining the sprawling Avenida 9 de Julio to watch the start.
"We can reach out to the world and show them our culture, population, traditions and landscapes," Meyer said.
"The Dakar offers us maximum exposure which no other campaign could give us."
He estimated the race generated about $170 million (Dh624.4 million) during the month before, and the two weeks of the event.
