2016 Dakar Rally: Bolivia to be involved in all categories

Bolivian President Evo Morales and Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) director Etienne Lavigne have announced that the South American country will be involved in all categories of next year's Dakar Rally.

ASO, the company that owns the rally raid, officially launched the 2016 Dakar Rally here on Friday which will go through Bolivia for a third consecutive year, reports Xinhua.

Morales expressed his satisfaction for this new edition of the race as Bolivia will be included, for the first time, in all categories -- motorbikes, quads, cars and trucks.

"This is a new happiness for the Bolivian people. Now the Dakar Rally will not only go through Oruro and Potosi but also the region of La Paz. It will not only be with motorbikes and cars but now also with trucks," said the president.

The race course will pass through territories close to Lake Titicaca which is on the border with Peru, and then head on through Oruro, Potosi and leave Bolivia through the Villazon region in the south of the landlocked country. From there, the race will cross the border into Argentina.

"We always jump at the opportunity to allow the Bolivian people to participate through our armed forces, police and all government institutions so that they can welcome (foreigners) and continue advancing into the coming years," continued Morales.

"We have carried out very beautiful editions (of the Dakar Rally) through the unique and majestic Salar de Uyuni (the world's largest salt flat in southwest Bolivia) and the Bolivian coordination has been excellent. Thanks Bolivia and long live the Dakar party," said the ASO director.

Dakar Rally 2016 would be going through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina and it will be the eighth consecutive edition that will take place in South America since leaving the African continent in 2009 due to security threats.