Rally Dakar Argentina Chile 2010 route

Dakar Rally chief Etienne Lavigne has said he would not rule out the world famous race returning to Africa, but in the east or south rather than its traditional home in the west of the continent.

In 2008 organisers decided to cancel the event, being raced from Lisbon to Dakar, following the murder of four French citizens and three Mauritanian soldiers only a few days before the scheduled start.

Sands of time: the 2010 rally begins in Buenos Aires on Jan 1 / Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Uncertainties over security in the western Sahara prompted organisers to stage the 2009 race exclusively in South America, taking in Argentina and Chile for what turned out to be a successful and trouble-free edition.

Although the 2010 race will follow a similar route, a return to Africa in 2011 – where organisers have held talks with officials from the east and southern parts of the country – has not been ruled out.

“We’ve worked hard this year in South America but we’ve also been looking at possibilities in southern Africa and the east of the continent,” said Lavigne.

“Alternating the race between both continents is something we could realistically consider.”

Next year’s edition will also start and end in the Argentinian capital, with one main addition to the race route – the Atacama desert.

The route for the 32nd edition of the Dakar Rally begins in Buenos Aires on Jan 1 and ends in the Argentine capital on Jan 16.

Held over approximately 9,000 km the race passes through Chile and will spend seven days in the Atacama desert, known by experts as the driest desert in the world.

Dakar Rally route:

In brackets total distances/specials.

Jan 1: Buenos Aires – Colon (317 km)
Jan 2: Colon – Cordoba (652km/219km special for motorbikes, 684km/251km special for cars)
Jan 3 janvier: Cordoba – La Rioja (626km/294km special for motorbikes, 687km/355km special for cars)
Jan 4: La Rioja – Fiambala (441km/182km special)
Jan 5: Fiambala – Copiapo (629km/203km special)
Jan 6: Copiapo – Antofagasta (670km/483km special)
Jan 7: Antofagasta – Iquique (598km/418km special)
Jan 8: Iquique – Antofagasta (641km/600km special)
Jan 9: rest day
Jan 10: Antofagasta – Copiapo (568km/472km special)
Jan 11: Copiapo – La Serena (547km/338km special)
Jan 12: La Serena – Santiago (586km/238km special)
Jan 13: Santiago – San Juan (434km/220km special)
Jan 14: San Juan – San Rafael (796km/476km special)
Jan 15: San Rafael – Santa Rosa (725km/368km special)
Jan 16: Santa Rosa – Buenos Aires (707km/206km special)
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SOURCE:
“Dakar Rally announces 2010 route in Argentina and Chile”
By Telegraph staff
Published: 3:55PM GMT 24 Nov 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/6644831/Dakar-Rally-announces-2010-route-in-Argentina-and-Chile.html