The 2009 Dakar Rally was the 31st running of the Dakar Rally. The race began on 3 January 2009, and took place across Argentina and Chile. The rally was for the first time to take place outside of Europe and Africa as the location was changed by organizers due to concerns about possible terrorist attacks that resulted in the postponement and relocation of the previous year's race In addition to motorcycle, automobile, and truck categories, a separate quad (all-terrain vehicle) class was added for the first time (previously a subdivision of the motorbike category).
Étienne Lavigne, the race director of the rally, first announced the new race location in February 2008 around the same time as the previous year's rescheduled and relocated race was held for competitors. He said, "Dakar competitors are going to discover new territory, new scenery, but with the same spirit of competition and adventure, with very hard stages."
Entrants 540 teams from 50 nations competed in the rally. Teams underwent administrative and technical checks in Buenos Aires between 31 December and 2 January. Afterwards, 217 motorcycles, 25 all-terrain vehicle, 177 cars, and 81 trucks driven by a total of 837 people were approved to start.
Route
The race began in Buenos Aires, Argentina with a symbolic start that took place on 2 January in downtown Buenos Aires, attracting an estimated crowd of 500,000 fans. The total racing distance is more than , of which is timed special stage. There will be a rest day in Valparaíso, Chile on 10 January. There are ten stages in Argentina, and three in Chile.
Stages StageDateFromToConnectionSpecialConnectionTotalStage winnerskm mi km mi km mi km miBikesQuadsCarsTrucks13 January Buenos Aires Santa Rosa M. Coma C. Declerck N. Al-Attiyah M. van Vliet24 January Santa Rosa Puerto Madryn F. Verhoeven C. Declerck C. Sainz G. de Rooy35 January Puerto Madryn Jacobacci M. Coma J. Macháček N. Al-Attiyah V. Chagin46 January Jacobacci Neuquén M. Coma J. M. González C. Sainz G. de Rooy57 January Neuquén San Rafael J. Street J. M. González G. de Villiers F. Kabirov68 January San Rafael Mendoza C. Despres J. Macháček G. de Villiers V. Chagin79 January Mendoza Valparaíso F. LópezM. Patronelli C. SainzStage cancelled 10 January ValparaísoRest Day811 January Valparaíso La Serena C. Despres J. Macháček C. Sainz G. de Rooy912 January La Serena Copiapó F. Verhoeven J. Macháček C. Sainz F. Kabirov1013 January Copiapó Copiapó J. Viladoms M. Patronelli C. Sainz V. Chagin1114 January Copiapó FiambaláStage cancelled1215 January Fiambalá La Rioja C. Despres M. Patronelli G. de Villiers V. Chagin1316 January La Rioja Córdoba C. Despres C. Avendaño N. Roma F. Kabirov1417 January Córdoba Buenos Aires H. Rodrigues J. M. Peña G. de Villiers F. Kabirov kmmikmmikmmikmmi
Due to heavy fog and the need to cross the border between Chile and Argentina, the competitive element of Stage 11 was cancelled.
Stage results
Motorcycles Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeDifference PosCompetitorMakeTimeDifference 11 KTM 2h 46' 17" + 00' 00"1 KTM 2h 46' 17" + 00' 00"2 KTM 3h 08' 22" + 22' 05"2 KTM 3h 08' 22" + 22' 05"3 KTM 3h 10' 59" + 24' 42"3 KTM 3h 10' 59" + 24' 42" 21 KTM 2h 14' 48" + 00' 00"1 KTM 5h 13' 32" + 00' 00"2 KTM 2h 15' 29 + 00' 41"2 KTM 5h 27' 19" + 13' 47"3 Yamaha 2h 15' 52" + 01' 04"3 Yamaha 5h 30' 23" + 16' 51" 31 KTM 5h 18' 17" + 00' 00"1 KTM 10h 31' 49" + 00' 00"2 KTM 5h 36' 06" + 17' 49"2 Yamaha 11h 11' 00" + 39' 11"3 KTM 5h 36' 06" + 17' 49"3 KTM 11h 14' 14" + 42' 25" 41 KTM 4h 09' 32" + 00' 00"1 KTM 14h 41' 21" + 00' 00"2 KTM 4h 10' 49" + 01' 17"2 KTM 15h 24' 18" + 42' 57"3' 00" Penalty3 KTM 4h 10' 53" + 01' 21"3 Yamaha 15h 25' 03" + 43' 42" 51 KTM 6h 41' 06" + 00' 00"1 KTM 21h 38' 12" + 00' 00"2 KTM 6h 46' 59" + 05' 53"2 KTM 22h 05' 24" + 27' 12"3 KTM 6h 48' 40" + 07' 34"3 Yamaha 22h 17' 21" + 39' 09" 61 KTM 2h 03' 20" + 00' 00"1 KTM 23h 43' 41" + 00' 00"2 KTM 2h 05' 29" + 02' 09"2 KTM 24h 24' 10" + 40' 29"3 KTM 2h 08' 35" + 05' 15"3 Yamaha 24h 31' 11" + 47' 30" 71 KTM 2h 36' 09" + 00' 00"1 KTM 26h 23' 47" + 00' 00"2 KTM 2h 40' 06" + 03' 57"2 KTM 27h 15' 09" + 51' 22"3 KTM 2h 41' 30" + 05' 21"3 Yamaha 27h 16' 18" + 52' 31" 81 KTM 4h 07' 39" + 00' 00"1 KTM 30h 33' 15" + 00' 00"2 KTM 4h 09' 28" + 01' 49"2 Yamaha 31h 39' 43" + 1h 06' 28"3 KTM 4h 10' 35" + 02' 56"3 KTM 32h 06' 49" + 1h 33' 34" 91 KTM 6h 26' 33" + 00' 00"1 KTM 37h 04' 47" + 00' 00"2 Yamaha 6h 29' 42" + 03' 09"2 Yamaha 37h 34' 20" + 1h 04' 38"3 KTM 6h 40' 13" + 03' 40"3 KTM 38h 04' 20" + 1h 34' 38" 101 KTM 6h 35' 26" + 00' 00"1 KTM 43h 52' 30" + 00' 00"2 KTM 6h 36' 22" + 01' 06"2 Yamaha 45h 17' 20" + 1h 24' 50"3 KTM 6h 37' 33" + 02' 07"3 KTM 45h 23' 41" + 1h 31' 11"3' 00" Penalty 121 KTM 3h 57' 37" + 00' 00"1 KTM 47h 51' 30" + 00' 00"2 KTM 3h 59' 00" + 01' 23"2 KTM 49h 21' 18" + 1h 29' 48"Penalty 3' 00"3 KTM 4h 07' 24" + 09' 47"3 Yamaha 49h 25' 25" + 1h 33' 55" 131 KTM 2h 33' 35" + 00' 00"1 KTM 50h 26' 50" + 00' 00"2 KTM 2h 35' 20" + 01' 45"2 KTM 51h 54' 53" + 1h 28' 03"Penalty 3' 00"3 Yamaha 2h 36' 12" + 02' 37"3 Yamaha 52h 01' 37" + 1h 34' 37" 141 KTM 1h 42' 37" + 00' 00"1 KTM 52h 14' 33" + 00' 00"2 KTM 1h 44' 44" + 02' 07"2 KTM 53h 40' 11" + 1h 25' 38"Penalty 3' 00"3 KTM 1h 45' 18" + 02' 41"3 Yamaha 53h 53' 29" + 1h 38' 56"
Quads Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeDifference PosCompetitorMakeTimeDifference 11 Yamaha 4h 00' 16" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 4h 00' 16" + 00' 00"2 Yamaha 4h 13' 12" + 12' 56"2 Yamaha 4h 13' 12" + 12' 56"3 Suzuki 4h 16' 06" + 15' 50"3 Suzuki 4h 16' 06" + 15' 50" 21 Yamaha 2h 55' 58" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 6h 56' 14" + 00' 00"2 Polaris 2h 58' 38" + 02' 40"2 Yamaha 7h 20' 51" + 24' 37"3 Yamaha 5h 29' 21" + 03' 23"3 Polaris 7h 26' 49" + 30' 35" 31 Yamaha 6h 41' 59" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 13h 40' 00" + 00' 00"2 Yamaha 6h 43' 46" + 01' 47"2 Yamaha 14h 16' 47" + 36' 47"6' 00" Penalty3 Yamaha 6h 54' 54" + 12' 55"3 Yamaha 14h 27' 45" + 47' 45" 41 Yamaha 5h 18' 33" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 19h 14' 51" + 00' 00"2 Yamaha 5h 34' 51" + 16'18"2 Yamaha 19h 46' 18" + 31' 27"3 Polaris 5h 37' 32" + 18' 59"3 Yamaha 20h 04' 25" + 49' 34" 51 Yamaha 8h 52' 38" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 28h 38' 56" + 00' 00"2 Yamaha 9h 16' 44" 24' 06"2 Yamaha 29h 21' 09" + 42' 13"3 Can-Am 10h 04' 16" 1h 11' 38"3 Yamaha 29h 37' 33" + 58' 37" 61 Yamaha 2h 49' 47" 00' 00"1 Yamaha 31h 38' 47" + 00' 00"2 Yamaha 2h 59' 51" + 10' 04"2 Yamaha 32h 10' 56" + 32' 09"6' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 3h 05' 01" + 15' 14"3 Yamaha 32h 59' 12" + 1h 20' 25" 71 Can-Am 3h 41' 37" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 36h 22' 01" + 00' 00"6' 00" Penalty2 Suzuki 3h 55' 38" + 14 01"2 Can-Am 38h 49' 33" + 2h 27' 32" 3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 4h 02' 42" + 21 05"3 Yamaha 40h 53' 28" + 4h 31' 27" 1h 53' 00" Penalty 81 Yamaha 4h 49' 24" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 41h 11' 25" + 00' 00" 6' 00" Penalty2 Can-Am 4h 52' 25" + 02' 51"2 Can-Am 43h 41' 48" + 2h 30' 23" 3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 4h 56' 24" + 07' 00"3 Yamaha 44h 06' 55" + 2h 55' 30" 91 Yamaha 8h 20' 54" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 49h 32' 19" + 00' 00"6' 00" Penalty2 Can-Am 8h 21' 33" + 00' 39"2 Can-Am 52h 03' 21" + 2h 31' 02"3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 8h 38' 20" + 17' 26"3 Yamaha 53h 01' 40" + 3h 09' 21"3' 00" Penalty 101 Can-Am 8h 20' 30" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 57h 53' 17" + 00' 00"6' 00" Penalty2 Yamaha 8h 20' 58" + 00' 28"2 Can-Am 60h 23' 51" + 2h 30' 34"3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 9h 13' 03" + 52' 38"3 Yamaha 63h 08' 03" + 5h 14' 46"3' 00" Penalty 121 Can-Am 4h 42' 58" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 63h 12' 11" + 00' 00"6' 00" Penalty2 Yamaha 5h 18' 54" + 35' 56"2 Can-Am 65h 06' 49" + 1h 54' 38"3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 5h 19' 00" + 36' 02"3 Yamaha 70h 18' 28" + 7h 06' 17"3' 00" Penalty 131 Suzuki 2h 53' 12" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 66h 07' 35" + 00' 00"6' 00" Penalty2 Yamaha 2h 55' 24" + 02' 12"2 Can-Am 68h 27' 55" + 2h 20' 20"3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 2h 56' 01" + 02' 49"3 Yamaha 73h 27' 50" + 7h 20' 15"3' 00" Penalty 141 Yamaha 2h 14' 23" + 00' 00"1 Yamaha 68h 22' 06" + 00' 00"6' 00" Penalty2 Yamaha 2h 14' 31" + 00' 08"2 Can-Am 70h 56' 06" + 2h 34' 00"3' 00" Penalty3 Polaris 2h 16' 13" + 01' 50"3 Yamaha 76h 04' 40" + 7h 42' 34"3' 00" Penalty
Cars Stage result General classification Stage PosCompetitorMakeTimeDifference PosCompetitorMakeTimeDifference 11 BMW 2h 36' 15" + 00' 00"1 BMW 2h 36' 15" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 2h 38' 32" + 02' 17"2 Volkswagen 2h 38' 32" + 02' 17"3 Volkswagen 2h 38' 55" + 02' 40"3 Volkswagen 2h 38' 55" + 02' 40" 21 Volkswagen 1h 56' 14" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 4h 34' 36" + 00' 00"2 Mitsubishi 1h 57' 28" + 01' 14"2 Volkswagen 4h 37' 05" + 02' 19"3 Volkswagen 1h 58' 10" + 01' 56"3 Mitsubishi 4h 38' 37" + 03' 51" 31 BMW 4h 29' 27" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 9h 04' 48" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 4h 30' 02" + 00' 35"2 BMW 9h 08' 28" + 03' 40"3 Volkswagen 4h 31' 07" + 01' 40"3 Volkswagen 9h 10' 33" + 05' 45" 41 Volkswagen 3h 42' 57" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 12h 47' 45" + 00' 00"2 BMW 3h 43' 03" + 00' 06"2 BMW 12h 51' 31" + 03' 46"3 Mitsubishi 3h 45' 21" + 02' 24"3 Volkswagen 12h 59' 18" + 11' 33" 51 Volkswagen 5h 47' 43" + 00' 00"1 BMW 18h 44' 37" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 5h 50' 01" + 02' 18"2 Volkswagen 18h 47' 01" + 02' 24"3 Hummer 5h 51' 55" + 04' 12"3 Volkswagen 18h 51' 10" + 06' 33" 61 Volkswagen 2h 12' 33" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 20h 59' 34" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 2h 12' 53" + 00' 20"2 Volkswagen 21h 07' 13" + 07' 39"3 Volkswagen 2h 16' 03" + 03' 30"3 Volkswagen 21h 17' 25" + 17' 51" 71 Volkswagen 2h 35' 27" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 23h 42' 40" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 2h 39' 08" + 03' 41"2 Volkswagen 23h 42' 49" + 00' 09"3 Hummer 2h 39' 40" + 04' 13"3 Volkswagen 23h 56' 33" + 13' 53" 81 Volkswagen 3h 47' 19" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 27h 29' 59" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 3h 51' 21" + 04' 02"2 Volkswagen 27h 40' 56" + 10' 57"3 Volkswagen 3h 51' 31" + 04' 12"3 Volkswagen 27h 48' 04" + 18' 05" 91 Volkswagen 5h 56' 08" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 33h 26' 07" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 5h 57' 55" + 01' 47"2 Volkswagen 33h 45' 59" + 19' 52"3 Hummer 5h 58' 24" + 02' 16"3 Volkswagen 33h 49' 05" + 22' 58" 101 Volkswagen 5h 32' 55" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 38h 59' 02" + 00' 00"2 Hummer 5h 33' 16" + 00' 21"2 Volkswagen 39h 26' 33" + 27' 31"3 Hummer 5h 40' 34" + 07' 39"3 Volkswagen 39h 40' 15" + 41' 13" 121 Volkswagen 4h 06' 43" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 43h 46' 58" + 00' 00"2 Volkswagen 4h 23' 00" + 16' 17"2 Volkswagen 43h 49' 33" + 02' 35"3 Hummer 4h 32' 10" + 25' 27"3 Hummer 45h 05' 50" + 1h 18' 52" 131 Mitsubishi 2h 33' 48" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 46h 35' 14" + 00' 00"2 Nissan 2h 41' 06" + 07' 18"2 Volkswagen 46h 37' 34" + 02' 20"3 BMW 2h 41' 15" + 07' 27"3 Hummer 48h 02' 27" + 1h 27' 13" 141 Volkswagen 1h 35' 43" + 00' 00"1 Volkswagen 48h 10' 57" + 00' 00"2 BMW 1h 35' 45" + 00' 02"2 Volkswagen 48h 19' 56" + 08' 59"3 Nissan 1h 36' 00" + 00' 17"3 Hummer 49h 57' 12" + 1h 46' 15"
Trucks