This year’s edition of the Rally has a record 20 drivers competing in the quad category among a total of 580 vehicles, all vying to cross the finish line in Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, on Sunday, January 18, 2009.

This year, the Can-Am team is counting on the race-proven Renegade X 800R EFI; whether in the Desert Challenge edition in UAE, at the Rally Dos Sertoes in Brazil or at the Kampfari in Australia, this ATV has demonstrated its performance in different competitions and in different terrains all around the world. BRP is being represented by an experienced team of South American pilots:

Brazilian ATV Champion Carlo Collet, whose seven podium wins include five victories in the Sertoes Rally in Brazil, is known for his ruthless spirit and piloting accuracy (he has won the state championship eight times). Collet has proven to be a master in Brazilian races and is excited to participate in the Dakar for the first time in his career: "Challenges, conquests and limits are some of the words for Dakar and to conquer it you need equipment with which you feel a certain bond. I believe the Can-Am Renegade is the only ATV that can meet this objective," said Collet of his ultimate racing machine.

Marco Patronelli is known by his teammates as one of the fastest, most accurate and precise pilots in Argentina. He won the "Campeonato de Verano" in 2005 and has secured three consecutive victories in the Enduro of Le Touquet in Argentina (2006, 2007, 2008). With these four triumphs under his belt, Marcos has now made history in Argentina: he currently holds the record for the longest consecutive win streak in Le Touquet (South America), having faced international pilots of every level on his path to victory.

An extreme adventure between two oceans: the Dakar 2009 is off to discover a new continent, South America, which offers unlimited possibilities for this year's competitors. The round-trip to Buenos Aires, via Valparaiso, is a challenge in which the most enduring racers will face daunting trails that will offer them the ultimate opportunity to distinguish themselves. With close to 6,000 kilometers of difficulties scattered throughout the course, the battle for the title will remain wide open until the finish line.