Dakar 2015 route set, Peugeot to return

The 2015 Dakar cross country rally dates and route was announced today with the gruelling 9,000 kilometer (transport and special stages combined) route to go through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia before completing a loop that will end in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires, which from where the rally will begin.

The Dakar will be held in South America for the seventh time next year with the event dates set from January 4 to 17.

In addition to news of the approximate route length, locations, date and loop format it was confirmed that French marque Peugeot will return to the Dakar for the first time since 1990 when 1981 world rally champion Ari Vatanen triumphed in a 405 T16.

Former World Rally champion and 2010 Dakar Rally winner will join five time winner on a motorcycle Cyril Despres in representing Peugeot on their return.

Peugeot won the Dakar four times in succession from 1987 to 1990 with two wins apiece for the 205 T16 and the 405 T16.

Aside from the Dakar both cars were modified for competition in the famous Pikes Peak International Hillclimb as well, which is an event that Peugeot won last year convincingly with a 208 T16 that was driven by former nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.

The Pikes Peak event has been associated with Vatanen and the 405 T16 thanks to the Finn's exploits being captured on the 1990 short film 'Climb Dance'.

In a press release that followed the initial announcement of their participation the French company said it would use a car based off the 2008 crossover that sells in Europe and is due to be launched in China and Latin America (where the Dakar is held) in 2015.