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MOTORSPORT

Dakar Rally begins in Argentina

Fraser Mills

Sunday 4 January 2009, 7:12AM

By Fraser Mills

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Dakar Rally truck
Dakar Rally truck Credit: Fraser Mills
Motocyclist in the Dakar Rally during the symbolic start through the streets of Buenos Aires
Motocyclist in the Dakar Rally during the symbolic start through the streets of Buenos Aires Credit: Fraser Mills
Dakar Rally truck at the Park Ferme
Dakar Rally truck at the Park Ferme Credit: Fraser Mills
Dakar Rally cars at the Park Ferme
Dakar Rally cars at the Park Ferme Credit: Fraser Mills
The symbolic start of theDakar Rally in Buenos Aires
The symbolic start of theDakar Rally in Buenos Aires Credit: Fraser Mills

The Dakar 2009 rally officially started from Buenos Aires today, covering almost 10,000km in 14 stages throughout Argentina and Chile.

There is one New Zealander, Michael Shepherd, competing in the motorcycle section of the rally.

It took 5 hours for the 500 competing vehicles to drive through the streets of Buenos Aires last night in a symbolic start to the rally. The whole city seemed to have gone rally mad with estimates of 500,000 people lining the streets to watch the 217 motorbikes, 25 quads, 177 cars and 81 trucks that are competing in this years edition.

This is the first time the Dakar Rally has been held outside of Africa. The 2008 rally was cancelled due to the threat of a terrorist attack after four French citizens and three Mauritanian soldiers were killed before the start of the race.

Follow the race at the official website: www.dakar.com

The symbolic start

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-3Lrqhx48I

 

The Dakar Village

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25OYxL1ylJ8