Dakar Rally 2019 To Be Solely Hosted By Peru

The Dakar Rally will take place in only one country "for the first time in its history next season," with Peru the sole host nation for the '19 event, according to Sergop Lillo of AUTOSPORT. The route for the 41st edition of the South American event was revealed by rally organizer Amaury Sport Organisation on Friday "following the news that Chile had dropped out of a potential return at the last minute." It comprises 10 stages and a rest day, starting and ending in Lima. It will begin on Jan. 6 and finish on Jan. 17. Rally Dir Etienne Lavigne is "confident" that, despite the lack of countries interested in hosting the Dakar, the beaches, dunes and Peruvian tracks "will still attract a strong entry" (AUTOSPORT, 5/18).