The Dakar Rally (or simply “The Dakar”; formerly known as “The Paris–Dakar” or “Paris to Dakar Rally”) is an annual rally raid type of off-road race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. Most events since the inception in 1978 were from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal, but due to security threats in Mauritania, which led to the cancellation of the 2008 rally, the 2009 Dakar Rally was run in South America (Argentina, Chile and Peru). It was the first time the race took place outside of Europe and Africa. It has stayed in South America from 2009 to the present (2012). The race is open to amateur and professional entries. Amateurs typically make up about eighty percent of the participants
Authors bio is coming up shortly. 