HADAF supports employment of 437,000 Saudis in private sector in 2024    105th batch of King Faisal Air Academy students graduated    'National History Lab' launched in Riyadh to preserve and innovate Saudi history    Probe ordered into power outage in southern regions as electricity service fully restored to all consumers    Saudi Arabia to raise localization rates in 269 professions It's mandatory for pharmacies to implement 55% — 65% Saudization from July 27    Education sector commercial records grow by 22% in 2024    Three Lebanese killed, 44 injured as Israeli forces open fire amid missed withdrawal deadline    Trump proposes relocating Gaza's Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan    North Korea conducts strategic cruise missile test as Trump signals openness to dialogue    Pakistan army kills 30 militants in northwest security operations    Hans Zimmer delivers a spectacular musical night at Riyadh Season    Saudi Arabia to host regular World Economic Forum global meeting starting 2026    Injured Djokovic booed off after quitting semi-final    Trump shrugs off Elon Musk's criticism of AI announcement    Why do athletes earn such high incomes?    Al Ittihad defeats Al Shabab 2-1 to stay in title race with Al Hilal    Julian Quinones' brace secures Al Qadsiah's 2-0 win over Al Orobah    Tina Turner's lost Private Dancer song rediscovered    Comeback queens, blockbusters and Succession stars: The Oscar nominations previewed    Dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are spreading in Ukraine    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Dakar Rally kicks off
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 01 - 2011

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: The Dakar Rally roared out of Buenos Aires with a ceremonial parade of hundreds of vehicles from its famed Obelisk Saturday.
The 16-day trek will take drivers 9,500 kilometers across northern Argentina, through the Andes, the Atacama Desert of Chile and back to the Argentine capital. The first leg is a 370-km cruise northwest to Victoria, where competitors will prepare for Sunday's first full race day. Defending champions Carlos Sainz in the cars category and Cyril Despres on a motorcycle return to defend their titles.
Officials listed a record 430 official starters, up from the 362 who were enrolled last year. The actual number starting the race is always lower, but is also expected to be a record.
The largest increase is in the bike category, where 183 were registered to start - up from 151 a year ago. This year's route goes northwest from Buenos Aires, with the racers crossing into Chile Wednesday. Participants then head north through the Atacama Desert and next Friday are expected to reach Arica in the far north of Chile, on the border with Peru. The race then turns south and crosses back into Argentina on Jan. 12. It ends on Jan. 16 in Buenos Aires.
Sainz, in a Volkswagen, may get his stiffest challenge from teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah. Stephane Peterhansel, who led much of the race a year ago in a rival BMW, was also a favorite in cars.


Clic here to read the story from its source.