La Paz, Mar 13 (Prensa Latina) Bolivia is keeping hope alive today that organizers of the Dakar Rally competition will agree to have the rally pass through the country”s highlands in its next edition, scheduled for January 2014.
President Evo Morales announced on weekend that today he will meet with the organizers of the famous race, to try to convince them to allow Bolivia to host it.
According to the program for his visit to France, Morales will first meet with French President François Hollande, then with French social organizers and finally with the board of the world’s biggest race.
Bolivia hopes to be part of the Dakar tour next year and says its geographic location and rugged terrain in the southern and western parts of the country is ideal for these types of races, in which trucks, cars and motorcycles compete.
Some Bolivians even contemplate traveling to the areas for the rally, especially if the organizers decide that the area of El Salrar de Uyuni is chosen as part of the rally’s trajectory.
Among them is Johnny Quispe, 17, dedicated to motorcycle racing, who dreams of competing, but admitted that he would probably end up being a spectator if the race passes through Bolivia.
Quispe wants to follow in the footsteps of the best Bolivian racer in the competition, Juan Carlos “El Chavo” Salvatierra, who has been recognized here for his performance in the race.
The Dakar Rally is usually held in European and African countries, but moved to South America five years ago and now includes Argentina, Chile, and Peru, passing very close to Bolivia.
However, already there are rumors that Peru is not on the 2014 calendar, though so far the organizers have not confirmed this.
The competition, which includes cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, moved to South America in 2009, after the French government advised changing locales due to the possibility of terrorist attacks.
The area mapped for the race covers secondary roads with sand dunes, mud, rocks and vegetation, and one of its main characteristics is its open enrollment, which has meant that at times, up to 80 percent of the participants are adventure-seekers.