The running of the 2019 Dakar Rally seems to be in jeopardy this year, as financial strain could stop it from moving ahead.
Both Bolivia and Chile decided to withdraw from the race this year, leaving Peru as the sole host country and with all the financial burden. Currently, a preliminary document has been signed between the Dakar Rally and Peru, but the final agreement on the race will come on June 30.
The final decision is expected to be announced on Thursday, June 28 at 7pm.
Peruvian media outlets are reporting that after economic analysis of the race, the country isn’t sure that the benefit is big enough to put up the roughly $30 million it will take to host the race. In 2018, Peru is estimated to have made around $40.5 million for hosting just five stages of the race, so the economic gain to the country for hosting the entire race should be much larger.
The 40th running of the race, which took place in January 2018, saw 337 vehicles competing over 14 stages and running a total of 5592 miles through three countries.
[Source: Autosport]
