Travel Blog Mongolia

Three-time winner of the most famous off-road rally on earth, Spaniard Marc Coma, has been forced to withdraw from the 2013 Dakar Rally which is due to start in Peru on 5th January. Following a shoulder injury back in October, Coma has been working hard to get fit enough to race. Sadly, at the last moment, he has pulled out, leaving American champion, Kurt Castelli, to ride Coma's KTM. On 15th January 2006 Marc Coma was crowned champion for the first time in Lac Rose Dakar. In 2006 he had to withdraw and 2008 was the year the Dakar in Africa was cancelled at the last moment due to security concerns.In 2009 he was back, winning the first south American Dakar rally, then again in 2011. Coma is one of a very few people who have won on more than one occasion and the first Spaniard to win the world's toughest race more than once. So it is no doubt with great regret that KTM have announced that he will not be racing in the imminent 2013 rally.

The 35th Dakar Rally is ready to start on 5th January 2013. There will be 196 motorbike riders starting, along with  40 quad bike riders, 161 cars and 75 trucks. This year's line-up includes, for the first time,  two Mongolian motorbike riders, #174 riding a 'Yamaha 450 Rally' NAMCHIN LHAMAA and  #175   DAMDINHORLOO BOLDBAATAR.  Apart from the Dakar’s three host countries, which represent a quarter of the rally’s population, new flags will appear on some vehicles for the first time. The challenge of the Dakar continues to attract drivers from throughout the world and Mongolians will attentively follow the performance of two of its drivers. The riders will compete in the 3-country South American rally starting from Peru, then on to Argentina and Chile.  The terrain covers some of the world's most stunning deserts; it is both a motor race and an orienteering challenge. Crossing the great Andes mountain range at altitudes of up to 4500 meters, the drive