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Bolivia's president bids farewell to competitors going to Chile

Xinhua, January 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Bolivia's President Evo Morales on Sunday bade farewell to the 2015 Dakar Rally pilots of cars and trucks, who continued the race towards Chile's province of Iquique (north).

The pilot will travel for the first time through Uyuni salt flat, the largest one in the world, located in Bolivia's southwest region.

Morales, who flew the checkered flag for Dakar Rally's eighth stage, expressed his satisfaction because for the first time, the route of the race includes travelling through Uyuni's salt flat.

The pilots departed from Playa Blanca, a site in Colchani, located in Bolivia's southern department of Potosi, in presence of thousands of fans.

This is the second time Bolivia is included in Dakar Rally's route, but the first time that car category will pass through the Bolivian territory. The rally has a total of four categories including motorcycles, quads, trucks and cars.

On Sunday, while cars and trucks will leave Bolivia towards the eighth stage between Uyuni (Bolivia) and Iquique (Chile), motorcycles and quads will run their seventh stage since they rested yesterday.

Motorcycles and quads will run their eighth stage on Monday January 12 towards Chile.

Meanwhile, Gregory Murac, Chief of International Relations of Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the rally's organizer, expressed his admiration for the astonishing landscape of Uyuni salt flat.

Argentine pilot Orlando Terranova (Mini), winner of car's seventh stage on Saturday, on Sunday led the group of the first five cars that left Bolivia.

On the other hand, Bolivian pilot Marco Bulacia said he was confident of improving his position in the new stage. Bulacia finished in the 39th position in the previous stage.

The 2015 Dakar Rally began on Jan. 4 in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. The race will last 14 days travelling through Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, to cover a total of 9,000 km.

In this edition, 665 competitors from 53 countries will drive a total of 414 vehicles including 164 motorcycles, 48 quads, 138 cars and 64 trucks. Endi