Xinhua News Agency, Buenos Aires, Jan. 3 (Zhang Qianli) – The 37th Dakar Rally held its ceremonial start in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on the 3rd. Among the Chinese competitors, Zhou Yong, a top driver from the 2015 Perfect China "Meinian Dajiankang" Brave Team, was the first to drive his car No. 332 past the starting ramp.
Before heading to the starting ramp, Zhou Yong was interviewed in the assembly area and said: "Today's ceremonial start of the 2015 Dakar Rally keeps me calm inside. The race consists of 13 stages, and I will complete this journey with my co-driver Andy (Andreas Schulz)." Zhou Yong also stepped out of his car to take photos with enthusiastic fans. Co-driver Schulz also signed autographs for many fans on site.
On the 4th, the participants of the 2015 Dakar Rally will set off from Buenos Aires to the Carlos Paz campsite in Argentina, covering a total distance of over 800 kilometers, including 175 kilometers of special stages (170 kilometers for the car category).