BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The 2015 Dakar Rally returns to Argentina for the final stages of the rugged off-road race, after winding its way through parts of neighboring Bolivia and Chile.
Racers will depart from Calama, Chile on their way to Salta, in northern Argentina on Wednesday.
Motorcyclists and quad drivers will compete over a 520-km liaison section and 371-km special in part two of the marathon stage, a grueling tract where racers are on their own, with no outside assistance. Truck and auto racers will compete over a 501- km liaison section and 359-km timed tract.
The day's special stage will start on the Salinas Grandes, more than 3,600 meters above sea level, and, according to the program, "the altitude should curb competitors' enthusiasm and cool down their engines. The more technical final phase will separate the toughest of them from the rest."
Leading the general standings so far are Qatari royal Nasser Al- Attiyah in the car division (Mini), Spain's Marc Coma in motorbikes (KTM), Poland's Rafal Sonik in quads (Yamaha) , and Russia's Airat Mardeev in the trucks division (Kamaz).
The Dakar Rally crosses the finish line on Jan. 17 in Argentina 's capital Buenos Aires.