Stage 3 of the 2013 Dakar Rally takes place from Pisco to Nazca. The 243 km race was held in the desert in southwestern Peru, near the foot of the Andes Mountain Range.
Today's route is set basically backwards from the previous event of Nazca to Pisco. However, sand dunes with a high level of difficulty were a troublesome task to overcome for the participants in the first half of the course. Such continuous sandy stages right from the beginning of the race have been established for the first time at the Lima start, and it is the very first experience in the South America event.
There still is only a slight time difference between each of the vehicles through stage 3, and the rankings can easily change with flat tires, getting stuck and etc. In the bivouac of Nazca, the co-drivers were absorbed in preparation of their road books, and the mechanics were engrossed in the maintenance of the vehicles to provide their best support in the coming stages.
The route for tomorrow's stage 4, takes the drivers on a 288 km SS where seemingly unending sand dunes continue from the beginning of the race.