Back in South America, the toughest off-road race in the world starts this Monday and runs until the next 14th.
Everything is ready for the start of the 2017 edition of the Dakar, which is described as one of the toughest and most demanding in recent years. For the first time, Paraguay hosts the mythical off-road race, becoming the 29th country to host the Dakar. It is precisely in Asunción, capital of Paraguay, that the 1st stage of the Dakar 2017 will begin, a 39 km timed special in a total of 454 km to Resistance (Argentina).
In addition to 144 motorcycles, 37 quads and 50 trucks, 87 cars will compete for victory in the race. Unlike last year's edition, which included the participation of Carlos Sousa (Mitsubishi), this time we will not have any Portuguese representative in the automobile category. However, the show will be guaranteed with names such as Giniel de Villiers, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Carlos Sainz, Sébastien Loeb and especially Stéphane Peterhansel, who will certainly try to retain the title he won last year. The start of the race (cars) is scheduled for 14:03, mainland Portugal time.
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In the team classification, Peugeot starts as the main favourite, a status achieved due to the «wonder quartet» that the French team has at its disposal – Peterhansel, Sainz, Despres and Loeb – but also thanks to the renewed Peugeot 3008 DKR, an evolution of the 2008 that triumphed last year.
There will be 11 Portuguese representatives on the bikes, in a list headed by the experienced Paulo Gonçalves (Honda) and Hélder Rodrigues (Yamaha). The Portuguese pilots will have as their main opponent the Australian Toby Price.
The Dakar 2017 starts today and you can follow everything here at Razão Automóvel.
