The new Rally Cross Country championship, which will have its operations center in the Atacama Region, will not only provide space for cars and SSVs, but will also bring back motorcycles. At the launch ceremony, the organizers announced an unrestricted respect for the environment and an opening to the community to be part of the event.

With the intention of returning the Cross Country Rally to its origins, combining the sporting with the social and environmental, the Atacama Race championship was born, which will have the first of its 5 dates in March, in Caldera. Copiapó (June 6 to 11), Vallenar (August 8 to 10), Antofagasta (October 3 to 5) and with a city to be defined, the championship will hold its final date on November 28.

The launch, held at the Tikay Suite Hotel – Copiapó, was attended by regional, communal and sports authorities, where the Atacama Association announced that it is proud to once again give space to motorcycles because since 2019 they have not had the space they deserve, involving the community and respecting the environment. “I am excited because in Chile we have been without a Rally motorcycle championship for approximately five years. We are developing the event with both the Chilean Motorcycle Federation and FADECh (Chilean Federation of Sports Motorsports), so we are going to meet the highest standards in terms of safety and environmental approval. Likewise, what moves us a lot is that we are having approaches with the authorities to make a race that gets closer to the community, integrating entrepreneurs and schools, so that the sports festival is for everyone,” said Felipe Prohens, General Producer of the Championship.

Prohens, who was a national rally cross country champion and had outstanding performances in the Dakar, indicated that they will try to stand out for their environmental care. “One of the main axes is to educate about the value of the desert and to show that things can be done well. We want the communities where the races take place to feel proud because we will not be an event that comes, runs and goes. In addition to being from the Region, we want to leave here the benefits of these races,” added Prohens.

International

The Copiapó event, from June 6 to 11, will be produced in conjunction with the Argentine championship and will be valid for the Latin American Cross Country Rally Championship for motorcycles. To this end, the Atacama Association is already working with Juan Pablo Sisterna, who is responsible for, among other events, the South American Rally Race, an event that has been called the “New Dakar of South America.”

“This alliance with our Argentine brothers promises that it will be a very significant event. Having an international race again in Copiapó is very important because, as Felipe (Prohens) said, the idea is to open up to the community and that we can all participate,” said Victor Hugo Caballero, president of the Atacama Association.

In turn, Juan Pablo Sisterna expressed his satisfaction at having traveled to Chile to seal the agreement. “I am very happy to be here in Chile and grateful to have been invited to the presentation of the Atacama Race. It will be great to see motorcycles in the Chilean desert, including trucks, something that has not happened for a long time and we as the organization of the Argentine Championship support this new initiative and join this whole sporting movement that is not only Chilean but also Argentine, Brazilian and all of Latin America since we are going to have a date of the Latin American championship here. For us, after 11 years, it is a great challenge to be able to leave our country and include ourselves within another organization and be able to work so that the activity continues to grow and to have the Rally Raid for many more years in this part of the world,” said Sisterna.

Legality

As the organizers emphasized during the launch, one of the aspects that interests them the most is to carry out all activities within the legal framework, both sporting and national. “To integrate with the community, we need all the necessary permits. They are all important, both the sports permits issued by the motorcycle and car federations, as well as the national permits issued by the authorities of the Republic, whether for the use of public spaces or for the protection of heritage and the environment. That is why it is so important that the authorities have attended this launch,” said Caballero, president of the Atacama Association.

“We are very pleased to participate here, through the invitation made to us by Atacama Race, for the launch of this championship and this Latin American date. This international competition with our Argentine brothers and if all the steps are followed, will take place in this beautiful land that promotes Atacama with natural amphitheaters, with wonderful dunes, where this competition can be carried out in very good shape,” said Germán Acuña Álvarez, Regional Director of the Atacama National Sports Institute.

In turn, Caldera councillor Jason Gaete expressed his satisfaction at having an international event. “A great party is coming up for this 2025 season. I would also like to mention that we are proud that motorcycles are returning to this national Rally Cross Country championship. We are very excited for the new generations of drivers and of course, for the most established ones, to have a championship that meets the requirements established by the authority in order to bring motor sport and this party closer to the community.”

Competition Calendar

1st Boiler March 21-23

2° Copiapó June 6-11 (Latin American)

3° Vallenar August 15-17

4° Antofagasta October 3-5

5° To be confirmed November 28 and 29