Asuncion has donned new colours since yesterday, with the official launch of the registration campaign for the first edition of the Desafio Guarani, which will take place from 21st to 24th July.
The gestation of the latest arrival in the Dakar Series family had already been announced on Argentinean soil, during scrutineering in Rosario before the most recent Dakar rally. However, this time it is in Paraguay that the raceâ??s route was unveiled. For the Occasion, Paraguayâ??s Minister of Sport Victor Pecci welcomed the journalists, riders and drivers who are closely following the arrival of this new event in their country. The former finalist in the French Tennis Open at Roland-Garros, now without his trademark earring and having retired his racket, is just as skilful with words as he was on the court when it comes to raising enthusiasm for the Desafio Guarani: â??It is an honour to see that Paraguay has managed to win this trust, to host an event and welcome elite sportspersons. We have signed up for two years, with the hope of really hitting the heights with this raceâ?. His government colleague in charge of the Ministry of Tourism, Marcela Bacigalupo, is relying on Paraguayâ??s assets to attract riders and drivers as well as the television viewers who will be following their exploits: â??The geography of our country is ideal for developing this type of race and it will also be an opportunity for us to show the hospitality and warmth of the Paraguayan peopleâ?. On the tracks, the concept of hospitality will also be mixed with the notion of competition for Nelson Sanabria, the nationâ??s sole representative to have finished the Dakar last January (12th in the quad category): â??Personally, itâ??s a privilege to be able to ride in front of my home crowds after my experience in January. Iâ??m sure I will enjoy plenty of support from the spectators, but I also realise that this time there will be many other Paraguayan competitors trying to finish in front of me, in addition to the major favourites for the race. Itâ??s a huge challengeâ?.
The stages of the Desafio Guarani:
21st July: Asuncion – Filadelfia
22nd July: Filadelfia – Asuncion
23rd July: Asuncion – Encarnacion
24th July: Encarnacion – Encarnacion
