The 2011 Dakar: a cascade of color
Dakar Rally Media - Dec 30, 2010

After two editions in South America in 2009 and 2010, the Dakar continues its exploration of a continent, which has impressive potential for new discovery. One hundred eighty six (186) motorcyclists on 15 different brands of motorcycles depart on January 1, heading towards the north of Argentina and Chile, the route skims the frontiers of neighboring countries and takes competitors through ever more varied country. It's a cascade of color.

Argentina to Chile, Dakar 2011 - The route is a land of contrasts

The immense size of Argentina will stimulate the imagination of all who love great tracts of open country. Leaving Buenos Aires, the northern route takes competitors into a land of contrasts where in a single day or within a hundred kilometers, the vegetation completely changes with the landscape. In the same way, driving skills required change between dry and wet. The ability to adapt will be rewarded and those with a taste for changes of scene will feel most at home. Over the first three days of the first Argentine section, the Dakar ventures in particular into the provinces of Jujuy and Salta and comes close to Bolivia. It's here in these new areas mapped out around the mythical Route 40 that the Rally ventures.

The Atacama Desert immediately captivated Dakar competitors. Its vast stretches serve to satisfy their thirst for dunes and sand. Copiapo and Iquique are becoming essential locations for the Rally After the 2011 edition we shall probably need to add to the list the port of Arica, which the Dakar reaches in the extreme north of Chile, on the border with neighboring Peru. At the heart of the Rally, the desert stages often prove determining. The difficulties in getting over mix with some tricky navigational choices. It's here that the expert stands out.

DATE             START                                           FINISH

01/01             Buenos Aires                                Victoria

02/01             Victoria                                          Córdoba

03/01             Córdoba                                       San Miguel de Tucumán

04/01             San Miguel de Tucumán           San Salvador de Jujuy

05/01             San Salvador de Jujuy              Calama

06/01             Calama                                         Iquique

07/01             Iquique                                         Arica

08/01             Rest day

09/01             Arica                                              Antofagasta

10/01             Antofagasta                                  Copiapo

11/01             Copiapo                                        Copiapo

12/01             Copiapo                                        Chilecito

13/01             Chilecito                                        San Juan

14/01             San Juan                                      Córdoba

15/01             Córdoba                                       Buenos Aires

With more than 9,500 km (5,903.026 miles) to be completed, including 5,000 km of racing, spread over 13 stages, the Dakar 2011 offers a dense program, whose specifics have been adapted to the different types of vehicle present on the rally. The longest distances, both in the special and link stages, are situated on the return journey towards Buenos Aires.