In this article, we have a look at the Dakar 2019 Route which is due to start in a  month’s time. The 41st edition of the hardest and most famous rally in the Planet will take place from the 6th to the 17th of January. For the first time since its beginnings, the rally will be disputed entirely in one country: Peru

A quick glance at the Dakar 2019 Route and it is apparent that organizers have sought a return to the origins of the famous competition. The rally is made up of 10 stages and 5,000 kilometres, 3,000  of which are timed, and 70% of which are on sand. This edition will bring back the flavour of the most authentic years of the legendary rally. Its adventurous essence and fearless spirit are back…at least in theory.

An exceptional sand-based edition

Etienne Lavigne, the director of the competition, tipped the press a few days ago in Paris: “It will be an unusual and extraordinary edition where the best of the best will be present”. And as per the words of the French leader, participants are getting ready to face a greater challenge, if at all possible, than that of previous years.

The dunes and the sand require an extraordinary skill at the steering wheel and the handlebar. Participants will be faced with an extremely hostile environment and be put under great physical and mental strain. The race is sure to be a continuous source of surprises and danger.

This year’s route is shorter and more difficult, making it harder to escape from rivals, all of which increases its degree of strategic complexity. Competitors will not be able to lower their guard for a second if they don’t want to jeopardize their chances of success.

A return journey 

The Dakar 2019 Route will be a ten-day round trip through southern Peru. It will start on January the 6th in the capital, Lima, and descend to Tacna, a town on the border with Chile, in five stages. 

The fight will continue on the 13th of January after a rest day in Arequipa on the 12th. From that point on they will turn back up on their return trip to Lima where they are scheduled to arrive on the 17th of January.

The rally will be extremely hard right from the first stage where drivers will enter the desert in their way to Pisco. The next day they will travel to San Juan de Marcona, a stage which saw many of the favourites retire last year.

On the 10th and 11th of January, the marathon stages will take place. These are key moments in the competition as participants cannot receive any technical assistance.

One of the biggest differences of the this year’s Dakar Rally is the possibility for rejoining the race after the rest day for those pilots who retire during the first five days. Those who do will be part of a distinct classification at the Dakar 2019 Route.

Stages of the Dakar 2019 Route:

6th of January: Starting ramp in Lima.

7th of January: Stage 1– Lima-Pisco (331 km, 84 km SS).

8th of January: Stage 2 – Pisco-San Juan de Marcona (554 km, 442 km SS).

9th of January: Stage 3 – San Juan de Marcona-Arequipa (799 km, 331 km SS).

10th of January: Stage 4 Marathon – Arequipa-Moquegua (511 km, 352 km SS for bikes and quads). Arequipa-Tacna (664 km, 352 km SS for cars, trucks and SxS).

11th of January: Stage Marathon – Moquegua-Arequipa (776 km, 345 km SS for bikes and quads). Tacna-Arequipa  (714 km, 452 km SS for cars, trucks and SxS).

12th of January: Rest day in Arequipa

13th of January: Stage 6 – Arequipa-San Juan de Marcona (839 km, 317 km SS for bikes and quads, y 810 km, 291 km SS for cars, trucks and SxS).

14th of January: Stage 7 – San Juan de Marcon- San Juan de Marcona (387 km, 323 km SS).

15th of January: Stage 8 – San Juan de Marcona-Pisco (576 km, 361 km SS).

16th of January: Stage 9 – Pisco- Pisco (410 km, 313 km SS for bikes, quads, cars and SXS; 408 km, 311 km SS for trucks).

17th of January: Stage 10 – Pisco-Lima (358 km, 112 km SS).

Images: Dakar 2019 Route