BUENOS AIRES, January 05, 3:40 /ITAR-TASS/. Thousands of Argentineans have welcomed all racers in the Dakar Rally, which will be held in South America for the sixth time.
On Saturday, January 4, excited viewers attended the Dakar symbolic start in the third largest Argentinean city of Rosario, which is known to be a native city of world football star Lionel Messi and an ardent revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara.
A festive opening ceremony of the motor race was held at a rostrum placed at the background of a magnificent monument dedicated to the Argentine national flag, from where the spectators can have a marvellous view on the city. The white-blue national flag, which General Manuel Belgrano had created, was hoisted at this place for the first time on February 27, 1812.
The motor racers from 50 countries should pass more than 9,000 kilometres, including 5,000 kilometres of specials. The Dakar route will run through Argentina and Chile as in the past few years with Bolivia involved in it this time. However, only the motorbike and quadricycle racers will compete in the latter South American country. Around 450 vehicles will start in The Dakar.
A glorious Russian team KAMAZ-master will have an enlarged crew in The Dakar-2014, competing with five trucks in the truck class. Two Russian truck crews, who will make their debut in the Dakar Rally, but who had already won in the Africa Eco Race in 2013, will join three Russian truck crews, which had already emerged victorious in The Dakar.
The Dakar organisers pledged that this will be the longest and most difficult race in its history in South America, where The Dakar had moved after the threats of terrorist acts in Africa in 2009. The racers should pass 13 stages. The Dakar will finish in the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on January 18.