The Dakar 2009 rally organisers have opted for South America as the new home for the contest that has been traditionally run across Africa. 7-time winners Team Kamaz from Russia have their eyes set on another victory.

When Dakar 2008 was cancelled due to terrorist threats the organisers moved it to Argentina and Chile. The next 6,000-kilometre challenge starts on January 3 with the course beginning and finishing in Buenos Aires, while running through Valparaiso.

A year ago skeptics were saying the cancellation of the traditional route in Africa would be the death sentence of the rally raid, but despite the criticism the organisers received a record number of applications for 2009.

“The number of participants is restricted by ASO, the organiser of the race, because they are not able to have a large number in case the whole thing becomes uncontrollable. This is why the number of participants is the same as during the last Dakar,” says participant Semen Yakubov.

Team Kamaz from Russia has won the Dakar rally a record 7 times, finishing first in five races consecutively from 2002.

Dutch team MAN were the winners of the endurance trophy in 2007, which KAMAZ withdrew from after its involvement in an accident that led to a tragic death.

After Dakar 2008 was cancelled Team Kamaz took their trucks back to the workshop for some additional tune-ups.

“We reworked the suspensions. The vehicles now ride on lighter axles suspended on short-leaf springs that are mass-produced in Russia. I can say now that we have perfected the shock absorbers. We have reduced the unsprung masses, which improved the ride quality and speed. Of course, increased speeds on rough terrain have led to other issues, which we have been addressing over the last three months,” says Yakubov.

Although the race in South America is new to probably the majority of the participants, Kamaz have an inside track on what to expect.

Driver Firdaus Kabirov, who won the Dakar rally in 2005, already has experience on the local terrain.

“I took part in the 2004 Las Pampas race. Though the descriptions say we are going to have to deal with sands, possibly in the Atakama desert, which I haven’t yet visited, I think that, if it’s like the last road race, the main difficulties are in overtaking. The roads are dusty, you have to draw near the vehicle you want to overtake, you lose time in trying to get past, and it’s also risky. This is why this race will be much different from Dakar in the African continent,” says Kabirov.

So, the stage is set for the maiden South American challenge. The Russian crews are looking to return the trophy. Kamaz's main rivals will be the Dutch MAN and the three TATRA trucks, but we will have to wait until January 18 in the Argentinean capital to find out who will be on top.