On Wednesday, Dakar organizers confirmed Chile and Argentina's selection to co-host the next South American edition. The 2010 Dakar will run from Jan. 2-16 and cover 5,000 kilometres of special stages.
The Dakar Rally, successfully held in Argentina and Chile for the first time in January, will return to South America next year, Chilean government and organisers said on Tuesday.
Mitsubishi motors will withdraw from the Dakar Rally and all Cross Country Rallys. The Japanese team, which has won the rally a total of 12 times, has decided to scale down its motorsports activities to cope with the auto industry crisis.
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.
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.
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.
Joan "Nani" Roma gave a first to a Mitsubishi team in need of success. But Dominique Serieys, the team's manager, knows anything can happen... His advice for tomorrow: caution.
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.
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.
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".
