The 2013 Dakar Rally entered Chile from Peru on the 9th, after racing from Arequipa to Arica. A total of 449 vehicles including bikes, 4-wheeled vehicles and trucks started in Lima for this event; however, only 390 vehicles raced in the SS today. Nearly 60 vehicles have already retired from the competition.
Today for the Auto (4-wheeled vehicles) category, a completely different route from the MOTO (2-wheeled vehicles/motorcycles) category was set for this stage. The competitors competed in the 172 km special stage (SS), after moving near to the border of Chile from the bivouac in Arequipa via a liaison of 284 km. Subsequently, the teams crossed the border again within a liaison of 53 km, to reach the bivouac in Arica along the coast of Chile. The SS consisted of hard road surfaces, such as the bottom of dry rivers and pistes, not only sand dunes that the teams drove through until the 8th. There were also many narrow points, and vehicles crossed between the reliefs, from valley to valley.
The plan for tomorrow's stage 6 on the 10th, takes the teams on a 455 km SS towards Calama. The sand dune stage around Iquique is likely to be the climax of the race.

Heartbreaking Decision - TLC No. 341 retires from the competition in the production group due to drive train trouble

TLC which was aiming to recapture the championship in the production group with 2 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 cars was struck with drive train trouble in No. 341 - MITSUHASHI/ GUEHENNEC while racing in the sand dunes in stage 4 on January 8. When the condition was checked in the bivouac of Arequipa, it became clear that parts, which were prohibited to be replaced in the production group had been damaged. Unfortunately, to replace these parts, the team had to retire from the production group. From stage 5, for the role of the team they will be supporting TLC No. 343 - GIBON/MIURA.