Enthusiastic spectators attended the Dakar symbolic start in Lima's San Borja district. Quads were the first to show up at the starting line located at Peruvian Army headquarters, also known as Pentagonito.
The event featured Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski as well as Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Eduardo Ferreyros.
In total, 342 vehicles will be heading towards stage one (Lima-Pisco) of the rally.
This year's race will feature six stages in Peru. Competitors will face the tough task of taking on Peru's desert dunes before racing in the high altitudes of Bolivia and difficult terrain of Argentina.
The racers will contest 4,500 km of timed special sections on their way towards the finish line.
Peru is represented by 24 riders who compete in different categories.
It is worth noting there is a Dakar campsite in Pisco located on Panamericana Sur Highway 253 km.
Following the symbolic start, vehicles will continue through San Borja Norte Ave. towards Panamericana Sur Highway before going to Pisco. That includes following all the traffic rules like any other vehicle.
The first bike is slated to depart at noon, as part of the first stage from Lima to Pisco (272 km/31 km special).
Peruvian drivers
Bike
Eduardo Heinrich
Carlos Vellutino
Oswaldo Burga
Sebastian Cavallero
Alejandro Bulos
Roberto Vecco
Arturo Chirinos
Quad
Alexis Hernandez
Ignacio Flores (discarded due to injury)
Romulo Airaldi
Christian Malaga
Auto
Nicolas Fuchs
Francisco Leon
Tomas Hiraoka
Fernando Ferrand Malatesta
Fernando Ferrand del Busto
Miguel Angel Alvarado
Ricardo Mendiola
Fernanda Kanno
Diego Weber
SxS
Juan Carlos Uribe
Javier Uribe
Aníbal Aliaga
Juan Pedro Cilloniz
(END) JSO/RMB
Published: 1/6/2018