LIMA: One of the world’s most popular motorsport events, the Dakar Rally will create history in 2019 as a record 17 participants in the competition will be women, China’s Xinhua reports. The figure is three more than the previous all-time high set last year. However, a massive number of male competitors will continue to grace the event, which is set to exceed 500.
Spain leads the way with four women followed by Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Peru, with two each. Bolivia, France, Italy, Paraguay and Russia will all have one female competitor.
The 5000 km event, which will run from 6-17 January, will begin and end in Peru’s capital city, Lima. The route includes five days in the Ica desert and a section in which competitors will tackle the world’s second highest sand dune, known locally as Duna Grande, which stands 1,700 meters high.
The Dakar Rally originally took place between Paris in France and Dakar in Senegal. It was moved to South America in 2009 because of security concerns.
