The 2009 Dakar Rally was the 30th running of the Dakar Rally. In addition to motorcycle, automobile, and truck categories, a separate quad (all-terrain vehicle) class was added for the first time. The race began on January 3, 2009, and took place across Argentina and Chile. The rally was for the first time to take place outside of Europe and Africa as the location was changed by organizers due to concerns about possible terrorist attacks during the 2008 Dakar Rally.
Étienne Lavigne, the race director of the rally, first announced the new race location in February 2008. He said, "Dakar competitors are going to discover new territory, new scenery, but with the same spirit of competition and adventure, with very hard stages."
Read more about 2009 Dakar Rally: Entrants, Route, Accidents, Notable Drivers, Winners
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