Dakar 2015 returning to looped route

The 2015 Dakar Rally will return to the concept of a closed loop, with the race beginning in Buenos Aires and driving through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and back to Buenos Aires.

2015 will also mark the return of Peugeot to the world’s most-watched rally run.

There will be a familiar tone at the ceremony to present the riders and drivers which will take place in front of the Casa Rosada on 3rd January, just before the start of the 37th edition of the Dakar. It was in Buenos Aires that the rally underwent a re-birth in 2009, with the start of a Latino era in its development. On this first journey to South America, the Dakar competitors were won over by the charm of the Argentinean landscapes, the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert in Chile. In 2015, a looped route with the start and finish in the Argentinean capital will again be on the programme to pay homage to this moment in the race’s history.

Since 2009, the Dakar has been enhanced by the encounter with its hosts (with three times more vehicles ridden/driven by South Americans in 2014!) as well as the discovery of new lands and countries. In addition to Argentina and Chile, which will see Iquique host the rest day for the first time, the route again includes an incursion into Bolivia. The country that enthralled the bike and quad riders last January will also enchant the car drivers during the next edition. The continent’s specific geographical features have won over the competitors and have also encouraged the organisers to try out new sporting challenges. The innovations will continue for the next edition with marathon stages that will involve all the categories.

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.