Montreal, Quebec - Canadian Patrick Beaulé, co-pilot of the ALDO Racing Team, was in Paris this Wednesday for the Presentation Conference of the 37th running of the Dakar Rally. The world-renowned event is scheduled to start January 4, 2015 in Buenos Aires. This year's return of the loop format, will see all participants returning 14 days later to the Argentinean Capital for the finish of the

2014 Dakar Route Map (Open in new window or tab to expand)

seventh running of the event on South American soil. At the conference, presided by Étienne Lavigne, the Director of the ASO organisation, presented specific details on the 2015 Dakar to an audience of more than 2000 media representatives, drivers and team representatives cramped in the Pavillon Gabriel of the Potel Chabot in Paris.

"The Presentation Conference was quite an impressive event," commented Patrick Beaulé. "When you look at all the extravaganza, the upcoming Dakar impresses me more than before and also scares me because it is such a big event in Europe, especially in France. But once I will be on the starting grid on January 4, the jitters will go away because we have a great rally truck and I put all my trust in our driver David Bensadoun and our technical team. The two-day Marathon stages at the halfway point of the Dakar, where our technical team will not assist us, will be as critical for us as it will be for our opponents. During these two days, we will discover the reliability of our #360 ALDO Toyota Tacoma Overdrive twin-cab truck and my mechanical ability to fix it if a problem occurs."

This annual presentation conference also offers drivers attending a first look at specific details of the 2015 rally route. The overall course has been available for some months now, but since no reconnaissance is allowed by the ASO, details disclosed in today's conference are of prime importance. Monsieur Lavigne also gave more information on the 14-day event. A total of 414 vehicles, split into four classes - motorcycles, ATV Quads, cars and pick-up trucks, and finally the competing Roadside Assistance, are entered in the event with 665 participants registered as drivers or navigators.

Reached by phone in Montreal following the Paris presentation conference, ALDO Racing Team driver David Bensadoun was impressed with the note reports his co-pilot sent him. "I wish I could have been there to feel the emotions of such an impressive event. Unfortunately, my busy work schedule is preventing me from attending it, but I felt the same reactions while reading Patrick's notes. I feel really pumped up, and I can hardly wait to be in Argentina for the start of the rally".

The 9,000 km 2015 off-road rally will take driver and riders on a quest through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia where they will tackle over 4,500 km of rally raid special stages on rocky trails, dirt tracks and dunes. Dakar organizers have traced 24 different stage routes in order to test to the limits of the different class of vehicles entered in the event.

Following a smooth start, participants will face their first tough test on Day 2 with a 520-kilometre special speed section, the longest of the 2015 Dakar, ending with a night-time arrival. Then, they will face the two hottest days of competition with temperature reaching up to 45 degrees Centigrade in Day 3 and 4 in Chilecito, Argentina while crossing the Andes Mountains going through the Atacama Desert west of the Andes, considered the driest desert in the world, prior to reaching Copiapo, Chile.

Three of the 13 stages of the Dakar will reach an altitude of more than 4,200 metres (13,650 feet): Day 4 between Chilecito and Copiapo; Day 7 and 8 during the return Marathon stage between Iquique, Chile and Uyuni, Bolivia, where drivers and navigators will be on their own to fix their vehicles prior to the return trip to Iquique. The last high altitude stage will be on Day 11 between Calama, Chile and Salta, Argentina when they will cross once again the Andes on their way back to Buenos Aires. Prior to that on Day 9, the #360 Toyota Tacoma Overdrive ALDO driving crew will take its day of rest in the seashore city of Iquique.

On Saturday, January 3, a huge crowd is expected outside "La Casa Rosada", the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, between 3 pm and 10.30 pm, to cheer on the competitors on the start podium. The 2015 Dakar Rally is scheduled to start January 4, 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Canadian tandem of Bensadoun and Beaulé finished the 2012 Dakar rally 39th out of 183 entries. They were named the Top Rookie team of the year. They also became the first Canadians to complete the Dakar in the car class. The 2015 Dakar edition will be the fourth for ALDO Racing, the third as teammates for David Bensadoun and Patrick Beaulé. Their goal for 2015 is to be ranked number one in the private entry class.

Media and fans seeking more information can visit Facebook at: ALDO Racing, (https://www.facebook.com/pages/ALDO-Racing/1420010304880026) or on Twitter at @aldoracingdakar (https://twitter.com/aldoracingdakar)