The world famous race, which has moved from west Africa to South America over security concerns, was won by Qatar's Nasser al-Attiyah last year.

A drop in spectators has led organisers to expand the race into Peru and onto the Argentine coast in hopes of attracting more attention.

Leonardo Boto, the general director of the race, says the bulk of the vehicles and drivers are already in the country.

"What you are seeing here are 68 vehicles that came in the last few days, around 60 percent of the competitors. Also the vehicles for assistance, the ambulances, the control trucks all showed up, which is the biggest group of vehicles. The Europeans and North Americans arrived by plane. Many of the South Americans came by land."

The race will start at the coastal resort city of Mar del Plata on January 1st and end on January 15th after a 9000-kilometer trip around South America.