In just two days the 2013 Dakar Rally will commence, with scores of drivers and riders set to take across the plains and hills of Argentina, Chile and Peru during the arduous race.

South America has been home to the Dakar Rally since 2009 due to security threats in Western Africa where the rally has traditionally been run and gets its name.

This video gives us a preview of what to expect over the next two weeks, from the opening stage on January 5 just outside of Lima, Peru to the closing ceremony in Santiago, Chile on January 20.

There will be some new and returning entrants this year, including Honda, which will be competing in the motorcycle category. Britain’s Excite Rallye Raid Team will also be competing with a highly-modified Range Rover Evoque dubbed the RaBe Desert Warrior.

Last year’s winner was the X-Raid Team, which fielded a modified MINI Cooper Countryman piloted by Stéphane Peterhansel and his co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret.

Below is a list of all the stages.

2013 Dakar Rally: The first half stages


Jan. 5 – Stage 1: Lima (Peru) – Pisco – total distance 263 km: 250 km liaison and 13 km special (shortest stage in the 2013 edition)
Jan 6 – Stage 2: Pisco – Pisco (loop) total distance 327 km: 85 km liaison; 242 km special
Jan 7 – Stage 3: Pisco – Nazca – total distance 343 km: 100 km liaison; 243 km special
Jan 8 – Stage 4: Nazca – Arequipa – total distance 718 km: 429 km liaison; 289 special
Jan 9 – Stage 5: Arequipa – Arica – total distance 411 km: 275 km liaison; 136 km special
Jan 10– Stage 6: Arica – Calama – Total distance 767 km: 313 km liaison; 454 km special
Jan 11 – Stage 7: Calama – Salta (rally enters Argentina) – total distance 806 km: 586 km liaison; 220 km special
Jan 12 – Stage 8: Salta – Tucuman – total distance 738 km: 247 liaison; 491 km special
Jan 13: REST DAY in Tucuman, Argentina

2013 Dakar Rally: The second half stages


Jan 14 – Stage 9: Tucuman – Cordoba – total distance 852 km: 259 km liaison; 593 km special (longest stage of the 2013 edition)
Jan 15 – Stage 10: Cordoba – La Rioja – total distance 636 km: 279 km liaison; 357 km special
Jan 16 – Stage 11: La Rioja – Fiambala – total distance 483 km: 262 km liaison; 221 km special
Jan 17 – Stage 12: Fiambala – Copiaco (rally enters Chile) – total distance 715 km: 396 km liaison; 319 km special
Jan 18 – Stage 13: Copiaco – La Serena – total distance 735 km: 294 km liaison; 441 km special
Jan 19 – Stage 14: La Serena – Santiago– total distance 630 km: 502 liaison; 128 km special
Jan 20 – Closing ceremony Santiago