Por Las Pampas : Start tomorrow
With 23 cars, 1 truck, 37 bikes and 4 quads, entries to run Por las Pampas Cross Country Rally 2006, Patagonia-Atacama closed yesterday. According to the tradition, there was a great number of last minute confirmations to take part in this challenge that will start next March 7 in Argentinian Patagonia and will finish on the 16th in the region of Atacama, Chile.
Two Mitsubishis, two prototypes and a South American battle!
23 vehicles will ensure a great show in the car category in the different types of surfaces to be challenged.

Most probably, the monsters to be beaten will be the two official Mitsubishis, although the prototypes - the Russian buggy Zil and the Norwegian Bowler – will be ready to face each other in a battle of their own.

Meanwhile the South Americans will compete against each other in a race with a good number of representatives from Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

There will be some newcomers from the last mentioned country: the Chevrolet Rally Team with two Chevrolet S-10 diesel units and the Mitsubishi Racing Brazil in two evolutions, also diesel. They will have to run against more experienced drivers in this rally, many of whom have renewed their vehicles for this edition.

A matter of honour
Finally, only one crew confirmed its participation in the trucks category, so they will try to complete the itinerary in the giant Unimog. Even without direct rivals, the conditions of the terrain will probably be enough challenge for this vehicle.

Everybody against Marc Coma
The official KTM team registered the entry of the winner of Rally Dakar 2006 and of Patagonia-Atacama 2005, Marc Coma. His team mate, on board another KTM 660 Rally, will be the young Spanish rider Jordi Viladoms. But Coma will not have an easy race running against experienced riders as the multiple champion Carlo De Gavardo. But Chileans will be majority, with a total of 16 in this category, showing their skills in their homeland, again in a race of their own.

Even category
Four quads will try not only to lead their category, but maybe, as in past editions, they will get mixed between the bikes classification. A Uruguayan Yamaha, a Brazilian Honda, and two Bombardiers, one from Chile and another one from Brazil, enssure a high competition level in this special division.

Tags: off-road,