The Dakar Rally kicked off its 34th edition with question marksover the gruelling 8,400km event's environmental impact and safety record.
In all, 459 vehicles blasted their way from the Peruviancapital of Lima on their way to the finish line in Santiago, Chile on January20.
The race that originated in 1978, when it traditionallystarted from Paris on New Year's Day and made its way to Africa, has been runon South American soil over the past five years as a result of security issuesthat hit the original route.
However, this year's edition has already come in forcriticism after paleontologists warned that the heavy duty vehicles will onceagain pose a serious risk to whale and dolphin fossils dating back more than 20million years.
"We have many skeletons of large mammals, especiallywhales and dolphins, and the fossilized remains of invertebrates that havesuffered damage due to passing vehicles," Carlos Vildoso, director of thePeruvian Institute of Paleontology, told AFP.
Organisers have also been keen to pay down the dangersassociated with the Dakar which has claimed 59 lives, including 20 spectators,over the years.
Twelve months ago, Argentine rider Jorge Martinez Boero waskilled on the first day of the race.
This year, around 150 security staff as well as 60 doctorsand surgeons will be deployed, backed up by five helicopters and 10 medicalvehicles, all mobilised 24 hours a day.
"This is an extreme sport," said race organiserEtienne Lavigne. "Zero risk doesn't exist."
Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel, a 10-time champion, defendshis title as strong favourite in the auto category, but faces a stiff challengefrom former winners, Nasser al-Attiyah of Qatar and Spanish driver Carlos Sainzwho won the race in 2011 and 2010 respectively.
The route winds along the Pacific coast before twodiversions into mainland Argentina and some rugged roads in the Andes mountainsfeaturing 14 stages across three countries.
The motorcycle category sees the return of the Honda teamwho have been absent since 1992.
It was set to feature another intense rivalry betweendefending champion Cyril Despres of France and Spaniard Marc Coma who haveshared the last seven titles.
However Coma suffered an accident in the recent MoroccoRally and will not make the start line meaning Helder Rodrigues of Portugal isthe main threat to Despres after finishing on the podium in 2011 and 2012.
Amongst the 459 vehicles taking part is a strong SouthAmerican contingent.
Argentina has 70 participants -- the second largest numberbehind France.
The race began for the first time on the desert sands southof Lima before gradually becoming more difficult as it enters Argentinian soiland a series of dangerous stages through valleys and canyons.
"It is far from a country drive along the sea betweenLima and Santiago and the difficult sections sets up the race for a thrillingbattle," said Lavigne.
