The adventure that is the Dakar Rally, one of the most challenging events all year, begins with daily coverage starting tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
It’s not been the best of starts to the 2016 edition of the Dakar, which runs from January 3-16 from Argentina to Bolivia. Four spectators were injured during a preliminary stage and the first scheduled official stage, on Sunday, was wiped due to poor weather conditions.
However, coverage will continue as scheduled on NBCSN with a recap of the prologue in today’s show.
Leigh Diffey hosts the rally; NBCSN Formula 1 on-site producer Jason Swales is on site in Argentina and will follow the Dakar as it goes ahead.
The official trailer is linked out here.
The full release from the NBC Sports Group Press Box is below:
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NBCSN presents coverage of the world’s most challenging off-road endurance race during the next two weeks, when NBCSN begins its coverage of the 2016 Dakar Rally at 5:30 p.m. ET.
More than 550 competitors will race across nearly 5,000 miles of varying terrain across Argentina and Bolivia in the 37th installment of the Dakar Rally. The 13-stage event begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before weaving north into Bolivia, and concluding back in Rosario, Argentina.
NBCSN will present coverage of all 13 stages of the race beginning today at 5:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports Group’s lead F1 and IndyCar play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey will provide commentary throughout NBCSN’s Dakar Rally coverage, which concludes on Jan. 17.
Mini has taken the past four Dakars in the car class, with Nasser Al-Attiyah winning his second Dakar Rally last year. Rafal Sonik looks to defend his title in the quad class, while Ayrat Mardeev won in the truck class in 2015. The motorcycle class will crown a new champion this year, after five-time champion Marc Coma, who won in 2015, announced his retirement and was named Sporting Director for the Dakar Rally.
Following is NBCSN’s complete next-day coverage of the 2016 Dakar Rally:
| Date | Coverage | Time (ET) |
| Mon., January 4 | Stage 1 - Rosario to Villa Carlos Paz | 5:30 p.m. |
| Tue., January 5 | Stage 2 - Villa Carlos Paz to Termas De Rio Hondo | 5:30 p.m. |
| Wed., January 6 | Stage 3 – Termas De Rio Hondo to San Salvador De Jujuy | 5:30 p.m. |
| Thu., January 7 | Stage 4 - San Salvador De Jujuy to San Salvador De Jujuy | 5:30 p.m. |
| Fri., January 8 | Stage 5 - San Salvador De Jujuy to Uyuni | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sat., January 9 | Stage 6 – Uyuni to Uyuni | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sun., January 10 | Stage 7 – Uyuni to Salta | 6:30 p.m. |
| Mon., January 11 | Rest Day | 5:30 p.m. |
| Tue., January 12 | Stage 8 – Salta to Belen | 5:30 p.m. |
| Wed., January 13 | Stage 9 – Belen to Belen | 5:30 p.m. |
| Thu., January 14 | Stage 10 – Belen to La Rioja | 5:30 p.m. |
| Fri., January 15 | Stage 11 – La Rioja to San Juan | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sat., January 16 | Stage 12 – San Juan to Villa Carlos Paz | 5:30 p.m. |
| Sun., January 17 | Stage 13 – Villa Carlos Paz to Rosario | 5 p.m. |