2013 Dakar Rally to end in Chile

The head of the Dakar Rally organising committee says the 2013 off-road race will finish in Chile.

Etienne Lavigne says on Thursday that Chile President Sebastian Pinera asked for the 2013 finish line to be in his country during this year’s race in January.

Lavigne says “Chile convinced us with good arguments and we are happy we’ve achieved this goal.”

Since the Dakar was moved from Africa to South America in 2009 for security reasons, it has started in Argentina, crossed the Andes to Chile and returned to Buenos Aires.

Organisers have already announced changes for 2012, including sections in Peru and a finish in Lima.

It has not been decided which Chilean city will host the finish in 2013.