The Desafío Ruta 40 is currently not an annual staple on the World Rally-Raid Championship, instead appearing every even-numbered year while the South African Safari Rally takes its place in odd-numbered years.

Ruta 40 organizer Pablo Eli, however, hopes his ongoing race can earn a permanent date.

Speaking with Argentine press before the rally, Eli revealed his plan to lobby to become part of the 2027 calendar and beyond. He cited his organization’s effort, local interest, and Argentina’s differing terrain from the other four rounds as major factors for why the DR 40 should be an annual fixture.

“The promoter proposed every other year for the calendar,” he started. “We are going to ask to be in 2027, proving that we can be a permanent date while the others should be the ones to rotate.”

The DR 40 was revived in 2023 and ran for two years before the Amaury Sport Organisation created the SA Safari Rally. Although the Argentine race has proven popular domestically, the ASO is hesitant to run it every year because teams don’t show up as much as to other races, primarily due to transport costs.

For example, only 37 FIA cars are entered this week while March’s BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal had 60. On the other hand, the Ruta 40 features 71 FIM riders versus Portugal’s 60, and the Quad class in particular—which has always been immensely popular in South America—has eight.

With how popular the sport is, Eli and his father David feel Argentina can host the Dakar Rally again like in the 2010s. The older Eli had been instrumental in negotiating with the ASO to move the Dakar from Africa to South America in 2009.

Dakar’s current contract with Saudi Arabia runs through 2029, and race director David Castera hasn’t ruled out going elsewhere.

“The only thing we can say is that we are willing to work towards that, and they know it,” David commented. “Aside from the sporting connection that links us to the promoter in an institutional capacity, we continue to be their representatives here in Argentina. They know and trust us. There’s a reason we still have this relationship.”

Stage 4 of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF took place on Thursday.

Featured image credit: Kin Marcin / Red Bull Content Pool