5 not-to-be-missed facts about Desafío Ruta 40 YPF INFINIA 2024
The Desafío Ruta 40 YPF INFINIA, which will be held from June 1 to 7 in Córdoba, San Juan and La Rioja and will be part of the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC), is just a few days away. The race already has several highlights. Here are 5 must-know facts about the 12th edition of this unique competition:
More than 100 competitors enrolled
Although the registration process is still open, more than 100 competitors have already registered to take part in this edition of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF INFINIA. Featuring some of the top names such as Nasser Al-Attiyah, Yazeed Alrajhi, Sebastián Halpern or Cristina Gutierrez, just to mention a few, the race promises to be an absolute battle for glory. Indeed, if we are talking about equality, the fight for the victory among the FIM competitors will surely be intense with the presence in Argentina of the best riders in the world, which will also have an extra element this year, since -unlike the previous edition- there will be no compensatory bonus time for those who open each special stage. Undoubtedly, Ruta 40 will be a great venue to see riders like Ross Branch (Hero), Tosha Schareina, Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) or Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna. Unfortunately, Kevin Benavides will not be able to take part in the race due to an injury suffered while training, competing at a highest level.
The bivouacs: Ferial, Villicum and Super Domo
The Desafío Ruta 40 will have three bivouacs. These itinerant homes will be located in the three main cities of the rally. In Córdoba, at the start and finish, the bivouac will be located at the Predio Ferial. There, it will also be the site of the Opening Ceremony (Sunday, June 2, at 19:30hs) and the Celebration Podium (Friday, June 7).
In San Juan, the rally caravan will be based at the modern track Circuito Villicum (Although DR40 has visited the province of the sun and Zonda wind on many occasions, this will be the first time it will visit this track). On the other hand, in La Rioja and as in 2023, the Super Dome will be the «home» of the race.
Many options, with free admission
Fans will have several opportunities to enjoy this 2024 edition of the Desafío Ruta 40. All the bivouacs, between June 1-7, will be open to the public from 11 am to 7 pm with free admission. Undoubtedly, this will be an excellent opportunity to get a close look at the top exponents of the Rally Raid and also to see the outstanding work of the competition teams.
Furthermore, those who want to go to witness the stages to see the competitors racing, will also be able to do so through the Spectator Zones, which will be published 48 hours before each stage.
Desafío Ansenuza, Ibero-American Cross-Country Rally Championship and Road to Dakar
The Desafío Ruta 40 will be the field where many awards are to be won. In addition to the event itself and those of the W2RC, the competitors will compete for other prizes. On the one hand, the Ibero-American FIM riders will fight for the title of the Campeonato Iberoamericano de Rally Cross Country (Ibero-American Cross Country Rally Championship). At the same time, the FIA racers in the SSV category will compete for a precious place in the 2025 Dakar Rally for the best qualifier, thanks to the fact that the Desafío Ruta 40 is part of the Road to Dakar Challenge.
Moreover, as in 2023, the Desafío Ansenuza will run its regularity race. Naturally, this amateur competition with its own navigation system and speed limit, which will compete on a specific route, will also reward its competitors.
Dakar Tour in Argentina
Just like in the best years of the Dakar Rally in South America, the Dakar Tour will be held in Argentina. In the framework of the Desafío Ruta 40, this key meeting point for riders and teams who want to learn more about the next edition of the Dakar Rally will take place in Córdoba (at Positano Restobar, in front of the bivouac) on Friday, May 31 at 5 pm. Attendance must be confirmed through the following e-mails: fromero-ext@aso.fr and tdupre@aso.fr
