Pablo Eli: “Desafío Ruta 40 is a race which has a bit of everything”

An action-packed week appears on the Argentinean motorsport horizon with the return of one of the most expected competitions by all the fans fans: Desafío Ruta 40 YPF. Pablo Eli, the mastermind behind the design of the competition route anticipated five days full of obstacles and challenges that will test the skill and tenacity of the participants.
The race will start this weekend in La Rioja and will then visit the cities of Belén (Catamarca), and Salta, where the final awards ceremony will take place on 1 September after five exhausting days of racing.

Pablo Eli, who is in charge of mapping the route of the competition, was very enthusiastic about the start of the 2023 edition of this event and said that it will be a very good sporting week: «We are convinced it is going to be a good race because we have worked hard on the preparation of a roadbook that has a little bit of everything. The great variety of terrain we have in La Rioja, Catamarca and Salta allows us to have very entertaining and demanding stages,» he said.

They are going to be five very intense days for the crews,» he continued, «as the special stages combine fast sectors with more twisty and broken places, as well as a lot of navigation through dried-up rivers, salt flats and of course the dunes in the west of Catamarca, which are an almost compulsory part of every edition of Desafío Ruta 40.

Finally, he highlighted the presence of the main figures of the cross-country rally world in our country: «This year, the race is valid for the World Rally Raid Championship, so we have the best drivers and riders in the Motorbikes, Quads, Cars and SSV categories, as well as other excellent local protagonists; in total there will be 115 participants who will fight to overcome the five stages and arrive in Salta on the 1st of September».

Schedule of events for spectators at La Rioja Bivouac
The first Desafío Ruta 40 YPF bivouac opens on Saturday 26 August
The fourth round of the World Rally Raid Championship gets underway this weekend in the city of La Rioja with a series of activities in which the local public will be able to enjoy and see competitors up close.
Bivouac Access (Superdomo): Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28/8: 12 to 7.00pm
Sunday Schedule 27/8:
15:00hs Prologue
18:00hs Jorge Malatini’s Aerobatics show (Superdomo)
18:20hs Aylok and Jaff Freestyle Show (Superdomo)
18:30hs Choosing the starting order for Stage 1 (Superdomo)
19:30hs Starting Ceremony (Superdomo)