The first stage of the 2016 Dakar Rally has been canceled due to heavy rain, with organizers "taking no chances over road safety after a horrific crash blighted the prologue stage in Argentina on Saturday," according to Michael Butler of the London GUARDIAN. Competitors had been due to set off from Rosario to Villa Carlos Paz "but will now start this year’s race from the start of the second stage, which starts on Monday." The cancellation follows Saturday’s incident in the prologue race, "where a horrific crash left more than 10 people hurt, including five children and a pregnant woman" (GUARDIAN, 1/3). The EFE reported the possibility of the Dakar Rally returning to Africa "alerted South America," which has an alternative "in the shape of a horseshoe," with five countries involved, to keep the race in '17. Dakar Rally Dir Etienne Lavigne warned before this year's race of the difficulties after Chile and Peru pulled out, leaving the race to be run in Argentina and Bolivia. Lavigne admitted to conversations with Angola, Namibia and South Africa about returning the race to its origins in the future. South America, however, "is not willing to lose this major date" on the int'l sports calendar and is hurrying negotiations with race organizer ASO to confirm the ninth edition for next year (EFE, 1/4).
