After the 2008 Dakar Rally was cancelled, following the slaying of four French tourists in Mauritania, rally organizers decided to change locales for the first time since the rally's inception.
Though the scenery has changed, the adventure remains the same. The race embarks in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and heads to Valparaiso, Chile, and then returns to BA. From January 3 to 18, the caravan will traverse 9,500 kilometres of road, including 5,656 kilometres of advanced difficulty. The course covers the Argentine “rios”, the Andes Cordilleras with their 3,000-metre peaks and the Atacama Desert.
Experience the South American version of the Dakar Rally, stage by stage, on FRANCE24.com.
DAKAR 2009
South-African driver Giniel de Villiers (Volkswagen) will never forget his triumphant arrival in Buenos Aires after he won his first Dakar. In an interview with FRANCE 24, he explains that he owes his success to his team’s hard work.
DAKAR 2009
On board with Mitsubishi: every day until the finish line on January 17, a member of the Repsol-Mitsubishi team, winner of the last seven Dakar Rallies, offers an inside glimpse into the events of the day.
DAKAR 2009
Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) claimed victory in the first South American edition of the Dakar rally, ahead of French title-holder Cyril Despres (KTM). South Africa's Giniel de Villiers (Volkswagen) took the final win in the car race.
DAKAR 2009
The grueling rally-raid is to start on Saturday, January 3rd. Nine thousand five hundred kilometres of sand, rocks and majestic landscapes await the pilots ready to take on the South American continent.
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DAKAR 2009
Just a few hours away from securing a Volkswagen one-two victory in Buenos Aires, the German team’s director Kriss Nissen, congratulates his drivers and expresses his satisfaction with the cars.
DAKAR 2009
By winning a fourth victory in Cordoba, France's Cyril Despres has secured his second place in the general ranking. In the car category, Nani Roma offered the first stage victory to the Mitsubishi team, winner of the last seven edition.
DAKAR 2009
Spanish two-time rally champion Carlos Sainz, who was leading the Dakar, has quit after crashing. He was unhurt while his co-pilot injured his arm. Sainz blames a lack of information concerning an "extremely dangerous passageway".
DAKAR 2009
Persistent fog has forced Dakar organisers to cancel stage 11 that links Copiapo to Fimabala in Argentina. The cancellation means a second day of rest for participants and their cars after Tuesday's difficult stage in Atacama's mountainous dunes.
DAKAR 2009
After a heavy fall in the 10th stage, Spanish rider Cristobal Guerrero was rushed to hospital where medical staff say his condition is "critical". The KTM biker fell into a coma after suffering from a brain oedema.
DAKAR 2009
American Robby Gordon, fifth in the overall standings, almost claimed his maiden stage victory in the Atacama Desert, a proper terrain for his Hummer. Leading at 83 km from the finish line, in the end he missed the win by only 21 seconds.
DAKAR 2009
Spaniard Jordi Viladoms (KTM) took his first win in the motorbike race. In the auto race, Carlos Sainz extended his overall lead with a fourth stage win. Wednesday's stage has been cancelled due to weather conditions.
DAKAR 2009
Dutchman Frans Verhoeven in motorcycle and Spain's Carlos Sainz in auto won the ninth stage in Copiapo. The Spaniard now leads the general ranking in front of his Volkswagen teammate Mark Miller.
DAKAR 2009
Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Volkswagen) tops the motorcar standings with an over 30-minute lead over the first non-Volkswagen. But the gap could narrow quickly in the event of a problem with his car. And the Atacama Desert is next...
DAKAR 2009
Cyril Despres (KTM) won his second stage of the motorbike rally ahead of Spanish teammate Marc Coma, who retains the overall lead. In the motorcar event, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Volkswagen) extended his lead with a fourth win.
DAKAR 2009
Halfway through the Dakar Rally, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) has won three stages, leading the motorbike race ahead of American Jonah Street (KTM) by over 51 minutes. Yet the 2006 winner says there’s no reason to slow down.
DAKAR 2009
Home favourite Francisco 'Chaleco' Lopez claimed his maiden win as the Dakar rally entered his country, Chile, for the first time Friday. He was welcomed in Valparaiso as a hero.
DAKAR 2009
Chilean biker Francisco Lopez won the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally, which entered Chile for the first time. Spain's Carlos Sainz recovered the lead in the auto race while Mitsubishi title-holder Stephane Peterhansel broke his engine.
DAKAR 2009
The organisers of the Dakar Rally and the Argentinian police spoke of delays in the launch of rescue operations when French rider Pascal Terry went missing. He was found dead 56 hours after he activated his distress beacon.
DAKAR 2009
Interviewed by FRANCE 24 shortly after being expelled from the 2009 Dakar rally, Nasser Al-Attiyah acknowledged his mistake and said he respected the rally organizer’s decision although he was disappointed.
DAKAR 2009
The leader of the Dakar Rally, Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah, was thrown out of the race Thursday after missing a control point on the sixth stage. Earlier, Mitsubishi's Luc Alphand was forced to pull out after his co-driver fell ill.
DAKAR 2009
The 49-year-old French motorcyclist Pascal Terry was found dead on the route of the Dakar rally. Terry had been missing since Sunday's second stage. Police were carrying out an investigation to determine the cause of death.
DAKAR 2009
Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) signed a third victory at the fourth stage finishing at Neuquen. In the auto category, Carlos Sainz (Volkswagen) finished just six seconds behind Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW).
DAKAR 2009
Although the Dakar Rally constitutes a major investment even for professional racing teams, it remains a field dominated by amateurs — devotees of the sport who invest a good part of their lives for the sake of a 15-day adventure.
DAKAR 2009
BMW's Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (right in photo), who came in sixth in the 2007 rally, got off to a flying start this year with two victories in the first three stages.
DAKAR 2009
Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) extended his lead in the overall standings with his second win in the 2009 Dakar. In the auto race, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz retained top spot despite being pipped by Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW).
DAKAR 2009
Spaniard Carlos Sainz has won the second stage and taken the lead in the auto standings of the Dakar Rally. In the motorbike race, France's Cyril Despres closed in on leader Mark Coma, but left the stage win to Holland's Frans Verhoenen.
DAKAR 2009
In a long and dramatic day for Cyril Despres, he suffered a puncture. The 2005 and 2007 champion lost 41 minutes and 18 seconds on his rival KTM member, Marc Coma, leader of the Dakar 2009.
DAKAR 2009
Aboard his BMW, Nasser al-Attiyah won the opening stage of the Dakar Rally. Spain's Marc Coma of KTM won the motorcycle stage. KTM's Cyril Despres is way behind after suffering a puncture.
DAKAR 2009
For the first time ever, the Dakar Rally will take place outside the African continent. Its 530 competitors have 16 days in which to complete a Buenos Aires-Valparaiso loop.
DAKAR 2009
Since the introduction of its racing model Touareg in 2004, Volkswagen has advanced by leaps and bounds in the Dakar rally. In 2009, drivers Carlos Sainz, Mark Miller and Giniel de Villiers are bent to steal the title from Mitsubishi.
DAKAR 2009
By changing continent, pilots and their machinery have to adapt to high altitude, a new criteria in this South American edition. The Andes are going to be the real test.
DAKAR 2009
The second string of technical check-ups for the competitors who have arrived in Buenos Aires by themselves takes place on December 31 and January 1, before official start of the race on January 3.
DAKAR 2009
Victim of a motorcycle accident in 2007 in which he lost the use of both legs, Spaniard Esteve Pujol will be hitting the South American roads driving a car specially adapted to his handicap.
