WATCH: Need to know about the most gruelling off-road race? This is Dakar 2018!

Johannesburg - The Dakar Rally returns to Peru for the first time since 2013, with the race kicking off in the Peruvian capital of Lima on January 6, 2018.

Route guide

A series of looped stages will see crews tackle a sea of dunes before crossing the border into Bolivia for the rest day on January 12th. 

From there, two more stages take the crews southwards through some of the highest parts of Bolivia, before dropping down into northern Argentina for the final part of the race.

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This 40th edition of the Dakar Rally features more than 5000km of stage racing, as well as 4000km of liaisons that tie the route together.

Seven of Dakar 2018’s 14 stages are run either completely off-road, or in dunes, making this one of the toughest events in recent history. Navigation is sure to play a major role, especially during the Peruvian stages. 

Check out this 2018 Dakar Rally montage: