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Lima, Peru - Hard-up Peru admitted Wednesday that they could cancel the 2019 Dakar Rally because of financial constraints which have already forced Chile and Argentina to back out of co-hosting the gruelling event.
"We want to do everything possible to enable the Dakar to be held," said Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva who admitted a final decision on whether or not the January rally will take place could be taken in the coming hours.
"We have a tight budget."
'Trying to break deadlock'
The root of the problem facing the Dakar lies with the allocation of precious government funds some of which have been used to try and solve specific problems such as humanitarian assistance given to the people of the Andes who are struggling against biting winter cold.
READ: It’s time the Dakar Rally returned to Africa
"The Ministries of Education, Culture, Trade and Economy are trying to break the deadlock," said Villanueva.
Despite the financial headache, the Peruvian leader recognised that the rally is "an event of the utmost importance for the country, because it is obvious that it draws attention to Peru".
Both Chile and Argentina have already given up hosting stages of the 2019 Dakar Rally due to austerity measures while Bolivia has not yet managed to find an agreement for the route with organisers.
The 41st edition of the Dakar will be held from January 6 to 17, 2019, on a loop of ten stages, against 14 for the 2018 edition which had taken in Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.