Everything ready to start the Desafío Ruta 40

After the administrative and technical scrutineerings, participants are ready to start 2013 Desafío Ruta 40, which will official begin tomorrow – Sunday – at 5:30 when vehicles get to the start ramp. This one will be located across Belgrano Square in San Salvador de Jujuy downtown.

After the unexpected storm last Friday, the capital of Jujuy welcomed drivers during an impeccable day. The weather will play a key role in this competition since according the weather forecast; some rainfall could mean one more obstacle during the first stages.
The 136 crews were completing the administrative paperwork by doing technical check-ups to their vehicles while other teams finished doing prior adjustments for this hard competition that they will face.

Tomorrow from 4:00 pm, vehicles will leave the bivouac located in the Grupo de Artillería de Montaña N°5 towards Belgrano Square. They will pass through the streets of San Salvador de Jujuy downtown. From 5:30 onwards, the Start ceremony will take place. On Monday morning the competition will run the first stage which will link Jujuy with San Miguel de Tucumán.

Drivers are expecting to face a tough challenge.
“It is going to be a complicated race, there are a loto f kilometers and there is a high quality of participants. We’re going to have to work hard if we want to win”, stated Marc Coma, three times winner of the Dakar and official driver of the KTM team. “It will be a tough race, like the ones we are used to in Desafío Ruta 40. For sure it will be the perfect training for the Dakar” pointed out Orly Terranova, member of the Branca Mini All4 Racing Team.
Most of the drivers agreed that it will not be an easy race since they will have to be careful when flatting out. However, they are also building their hopes up to race againt the best ones in an itinerary similar to the Dakar.

The fourth edition of Desafío Ruta 40 will start on Sunday 16th of June in the city of San Salvador de Jujuy. There will be six stages in a race of over 3,600 kilometers, 1,600 of which are timed. The event will also visit the cities of San Miguel de Tucumán, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Belén, Chilecito and San Juan, where the competition will end on Saturdaty 22nd. The event will also be valid for the FIM World Championship of Cross Country Rally and it will grant points for the Argentine Championship of Cross Country Rally.

More information on www.desafioruta40.com.ar

Photo credit: @Prensa Desafío Ruta 40 | Paco Photo