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WATCH IT
Dakar Rally
- What: 5,000-mile race from Barcelona, Spain, to Dakar, Senegal
- When: Jan. 1-16
- Watch: Outdoor Life Network, Jan. 23-27
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Imagine an extreme race that takes more than two weeks, covers more than 5,000 miles and crosses both the vast African desert and dense tropical jungle.
That's the challenge of the Dakar Rally, which makes its 27th run this year. Last year more than 600 trucks, motorbikes and cars-most heavily modified-started the race. Only 163 finished.
This year, nearly $200,000 in prize money is up for grabs, although the bragging rights among those in the extreme sports world are worth far more. The Dakar is legendary for its arduousness, and has even resulted in several deaths over the years. Heat, dehydration, endurance and the terrain are among the challenges to human and machine alike.
The first Dakar Rally was in 1978, with nearly 200 participants setting off with only a road map and compass. This year's contest goes from Barcelona, Spain, to Dakar, Senegal, and racers will use the latest Global Positioning System technology to find their way.
