The 2012 Dakar Rally is the 33rd running of the event. Most events since the inception of the rally in 1978, were from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal.

The course, however, changed because of security reasons and this is the fourth consecutive year during which the race is being held in South America.

In the past three years, the race consisted of loop courses from Buenos Aires to Chile and back to Buenos Aires. This year the race began in Argentina, passing through Chile and will finish in Lima, Peru, on 15th January 2012.