The 2009 Dakar Rally has now been confirmed to take place in South America.

The 2008 event was cancelled one day before its scheduled start date of January 5 after terrorist threats. Next year's event is now confirmed to take place in Argentina and Chile.

The rally (formerly know as the Paris-Dakar) will now start in Buenos Aires on January 3. Competitors will cover 5600 mile in 15 days.

The Dakar will follow the route of the Patagonia-Atacama Rally, running from Patagonia, through the Andes Mountains to the Atacama Desert – the driest desert in the world.

Entrants for the 2008 event will be offered first priority for places on the 2009 event.

Applications will open on May 15 this year for further information on the rally see www.dakar.com or click here for more news.