The Dakar Rally drivers zoom toward Bolivia’s famous Uyuni salt flats in stage five of 13 for what will be the highest-altitude section of what the organizers bill the world’s “longest and hardest” race.
Today is"altitude party". 4600m, the higher point in @Dakar story! pic.twitter.com/MhwHhOoBFq
— Peugeot Sport (@peugeotsport) January 7, 2016
“Beware of headaches!” warns the race’s website, as drivers soar to 4,600 meters above sea level in the Bolivian Andes.
A salt statue to welcome the rally is seen in the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. | Photo: ABI
Bolivia is celebrating the arrival of the race.
Thursday’s route | Photo: Dakar Rally website
The event first passed through Bolivia in 2014 and draws some 350,000 people to watch, generating roughly US$66 million in economic income. When the 2016 route was annouced, the Bolivian government said it will improve Bolivia’s international profile and draw tourism to the region.
Let's start the Bolivian show in Uyuni! ��������������������������������#Dakar2016 @boliviatravel1 #DakarBO https://t.co/UMVN3cHLYc
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 7, 2016
Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera was in Uyuni to meet the fans:
Photo: ABI
The drama of stage four in Jujuy province, Argentina, is still on everyone’s minds as the aftermath of crashes, heroism and wipeouts sinks in.
Factory KTM rider Laia Sanz was hailed as a hero after she stopped racing to help competitor Pela Renet after he fell from his bike and lost consciousness.
"Helping someone is what any rider should do, that's normal and it was important. Though I lost time it was the right thing to do," Sanz told Motorsport.com.
Renet’s first Dakar Rally ended in a trip to hospital after suffering the head injury in the tumble. Although he quickly came around, he is in Jujuy hospital for observation.
Sanz dropped from 21st position to 38th for being a good Samaritan, but organizers rewarded her with time back, meaning she finished stage four 15th overall.
Finally they got me back the 35 minutes, which means I was 15th. Time to rest. Good night! #Dakar2016 @dakar pic.twitter.com/YxF3zCkE4p
— Laia Sanz (@LaiaSanz_) January 7, 2016
After stage four, Portuguese contender Paulo Goncalves was currently in the lead among the bikes, Peter Versluis of Holland leads the trucks, Ignacio Casale of Chile was the king of the quads, while Sebastien Loeb of France was racing ahead of the other cars.
The 2016 Dakar Rally is taking place Jan. 3-16 in Argentina and Bolivia.
According to the Dakar website, the route is as follows:
02/01: Start podium in Buenos Aires / Prologue / Liaison to Bivouac "0" close to Rosario
03/01: Buenos Aires - Villa Carlos Paz
04/01: Villa Carlos Paz - Termas de Río Hondo
05/01: Termas de Río Hondo - Jujuy
06/01: Jujuy - Jujuy
07/01: Jujuy - Uyuni
08/01: Uyuni - Uyuni
09/01: Uyuni - Salta
10/01: Rest day in Salta
11/01: Salta - Belen
12/01: Belen - Belen
13/01: Belen - La Rioja
14/01: La Rioja - San Juan
15/01: San Juan - Villa Carlos Paz
16/01: Villa Carlos Paz - Rosario
Click on the photo to go to teleSUR’s photo gallery of past Dakar rallies
The Dakar Rally, which is in its 39th year, was originally an event held in Africa. It later moved to southern South America due to security concerns.
The organizers describe it as “the pinnacle of the motor sports discipline”:
“More than just a simple question of racing and speed, the Dakar requires off-piste navigational skills and consistency. In the long-distance rally discipline, endurance prevails and the slightest mistake costs dearly. Coping with the living conditions, managing fatigue, and weighing up the risks of the race can only be achieved by a combination of peak physical condition and impeccable technical skills.”
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