Dakar Rally to get underway in Paraguay

More than 300 vehicles - including 83 cars and 146 motorcycles - will participate in the 2017 Dakar Rally, which begins in Paraguay on Monday.

The race will feature 12 stages, covering more than 9,000km in Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina before ending in Buenos Aires on Jan. 14.

It will be the first time that the race includes sections higher than 5,000m above sea level.

Peugeot is expected to continue its fine record in the event, led by last year's champion Stephane Peterhansel and nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb. They will be supported by Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres.

Toyota is also forecast to be among the frontrunners with Nasser Al-Attiyah and Nani Roma being drafted into the team alongside Giniel de Villiers.

Posing a threat will be the German X-Raid team's Mini John Cooper drivers, headed by Mikko Hirvonen, who finished the 2016 edition in fourth place.

This year's race will feature 82 rookies and seven female competitors.

2017 Dakar Rally route:

Monday January 2 - Stage 1: Asuncion-Resistencia 454 km, special 39 km;

Tuesday January 3 - Stage 2: Resistencia-San Miguel de Tucuman 803 km, special 275 km;

Wednesday January 4 - Stage 3: San Miguel de Tucuman-San Salvador de Jujuy 780 km, special 364 km;

Thursday January 5 - Stage 4: San Salvador de Jujuy-Tupiza 521 km, special 416 km;

Friday January 6 - Stage 5: Tupiza-Oruro 692 km, special 447 km;

Saturday January 7 - Stage 6: Oruro-La Paz 786 km, special 527 km;

Sunday January 8 - Rest Day;

Monday January 9 - Stage 7: La Paz-Uyuni 622 km, special 322 km;

Tuesday January 10 - Stage 8: Uyuni-Salta 892 km, special 492 km;

Wednesday January 11 - Stage 9: Salta-Chilecito 977 km, special 406 km;

Thursday January 12 - Stage 10: Chilecito-San Juan 751 km, special 449 km;

Friday January 13 - Stage 11: San Juan-Rio Cuarto 759 km, special 292 km;

Saturday January 14 - Stage 12: Rio Cuarto-Buenos Aires 786 km, special 64 km.

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