Dakar Rally to move to South America

Dakar organiser, the ASO, has just confirmed that the 2009 Dakar Rally will be joint-hosted by Argentina and Chile, after this year’s race was cancelled.

• Cyril Despres on the Dakar cancellation
• Dakar Rally cancelled

This year’s rally was called off at the last minute due to direct terrorist threats and the murders of four French tourists in Mauritania on Christmas Eve last year.

The 2009 race is planned to start and finish in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Provisional plans suggest there will be 3700 miles of special stages over a 5,600 mile route.

The race is due to start on January 2, 2009 and return to Buenos Aires on January 18.

Details of the route are scheduled to be announced tomorrow.

Competitors will be able to sign up from May 15, 2008 and priority will be given to 2008 entrants.