WITH less than a week to go before the first stage, officials have released a teaser video for the 2015 Dakar rally.
This year's race will see motorcycle competitors ride a loop through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, before finishing in Argentina again.
The 9,000km (5,600 miles) rally is comprised of road sections and timed 'Selective Sections' or 'Specials', which make up for roughy half of the race distance.
The 13-stage race includes one rest day and two marathon stages where only riders can work on their bike with no help from their support crew.
Stage one starts on 4 January, 2015 and will see competitors ride 838km (520 miles) from Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz.
This year's Dakar rally route:
Stage 1 – 4 January – Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz - 838km total
Stage 2 – 5 January – Villa Carlos Paz to San Juan - 625km total
Stage 3 – 6 January – San Juan to Chilecito - 657km total
Stage 4 – 7 January – Chilecito to Copiapó - 909km total
Stage 5 – 8 January – Copiapó to Antofagasta - 697km total
Stage 6 – 9 January – Antofagasta to Iquique - 688km total
Rest day – 10 January -Iquique
Stage 7 – 11 January – Iquique to Uyuni - 717km total (marathon stage)
Stage 8 – 12 January – Uyuni to Iquique - 805km total
Stage 9 – 13 January – Iquique to Calama - 539km total
Stage 10 – 14 January – Calama to Salta - 891km total (marathon stage)
Stage 11 – 15 January – Salta to Termas Río Hondo - 512km total
Stage 12 – 16 January – Termas Río Hondo to Rosario - 1,024km total
Stage 13 – 17 January – Rosario to Buenos Aires - 393km total
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