The 2014 edition of the prestigious Dakar Rally gets underway on January 5 and British Eurosport will broadcast a daily 30-minute magazine show reviewing every stage.
This year’s Dakar will be the 35th running of the event and the sixth successive year that the event is held in South America..
The event starts in Rosario, Argentina, on January 5 and finishes in Valparaíso, Chile, on January 18 after thirteen stages of competition, with its brave and fearless competitors crossing the stunning backdrops of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
In contrast with past editions of the event, five special stages have been marked out on completely separate routes, with motorcycles and quad bikes on one side and cars and trucks on the other.
With several marathon stages on the agenda, managing mechanics will be even more vital to ensuring the vehicles’ performance.
The X-Raid team return to Dakar defend their crown in the cars category with Stephane Peterhansel aiming for a third consecutive win and a twelfth in total at the wheel of a Mini All4.
Also representing the German outfit are 2011 champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, former bike category winner Nani Roma and former stage winners Orlando Terranova and Krzysztof Holowczyc.
Former tw0-time WRC champion and 2010 Dakar winner Carlos Sainz joins the Red Bull backed SMG team, driving a proprietary buggy alongside teammate Ronan Chabot, while 2009 champion Giniel de Villiers tackles the event once more behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux prepared by the South African Imperial Toyota team.
Other notable entrants include Dakar stalwart Robby Gordon, as ever driving a self-run Hummer, Carlos Sousa, representing Haval, Lucio Alvarez in a Ford and Guerlain Chicherit, a last-minute entry in a Damen Jefferies-built buggy.
In the bikes category, five-time Dakar champion Cyril Despres heads the entry list, switching to Yamaha having enjoyed all of his previous success with KTM.
Supporting the Frenchman in the factory Yamaha team are Olivier Pain, who at one stage led the overall classification during last year’s event, stage winner Frans Verhoeven and Michael Metge.
Marc Coma, who was forced to miss the 2013 Dakar due to injury, returns in 2014 to spearhead KTM’s challenge and attempt to re-take the crown he lost won in 2011.
Last year’s second and third place finishers Ruben Faria and Francisco Lopez as well as Jordi Viladoms complete the works KTM line-up, with former second place finishers David Casteu and Pal Anders Ullevalseter on privately entered KTMs.
Joan Barreda, who took four stage wins in 2012, leads Honda’s assault on the Dakar, alongside Helder Rodrigues, Paulo Goncalves, Javier Pizzolito and Sam Sunderland, whilst Juan Pedrero and Alain Duclos represent Sherco.
British Eurosport viewers will have the time to discover and appreciate the stunning landscapes of South America as the channel presents daily coverage of the 2014 Dakar Rally.
Summing up the day’s action, including exclusive interviews, British Eurosport’s 30-minute nightly highlights shows will be broadcast at 10.00pm for the first week and at 10.30pm in the second week, all with commentary provided by Carlton Kirby.
Online, Eurosport’s website will also provide the latest stage updates, route guide, news and interviews direct from South America.
For further information on the 2014 Dakar Rally, visit the official Dakar Rally website.
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