Lima, Oct 5 (IANS): The first stage of the Dakar "Desafio Inca" series began Friday with 83 vehicles rumbling in the sand of Peru's Pisco province in the Ica region, some 240 km south of Lima.

The 37 motorcycles, 26 quads, and 20 cars and trucks will cover 447 kilometres in the first stage, including two special stretches of 154 km each and two intersection stretches of 49 and 36 km respectively, reports Xinhua.

The quad category includes the participation of the five-time Dakar Rally winner French Cyril Despres, Peruvian Ignacio Flores, Chilean Ignacio Casale and Argentine Lucas Bonetto, as well as the only woman in all the competition, Colombian Sandra Riano.

In the car category, the clash will be between Peruvian Ramon Ferreyros and Brazilian Guilherme Spinelli.

The second stage will be held Saturday, in which motorcycles and quads will cover the first loop of 250 km and later a second clocked lap of 183 km. Cars will only travel the first 250 km.

The final stage will be held Sunday, with two loops with special stretches of 140 km on a total distance of 362 km, where the winners of the three categories will be defined.

According to Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the French company who organisers Dakar Rally, the three journeys have totally different loops, and drivers have to travel it twice a day.

In case they cover the complete journey, they will reach 1000 kilometres in sandy lands in the middle of complicated dunes.

"Desafio Inca" is a qualifying competition for Dakar Rally 2014, which will be held in Argentina and Chile, and for the first time Bolivia will be included.