Defending champions Carlos Sainz in the cars category and Cyril Despres on a bike return to defend their titles when the Dakar Rally starts today from the Argentine capital.

Officials say 430 vehicles across four categories — cars, bikes, quads and trucks — are expected to begin the race which will cover 9,500 kilometers across northern Argentina and along the spine of Chile. The race ends on Jan. 16 back in Buenos Aires. It the third straight year the race has been held in the two South American countries.

Today's start is a ceremonial leg with the drivers following a 370-kilometer route northwest to Victoria, where they will prepare for tomorrow's first full race day.

Organizers are touting an increase in participants. The 430 expected to start is up from the 362 who were enrolled last year to begin the grueling trek. The largest increase is in the bike category, with 183 expected to start — up from 151 a year ago.

The vehicles today will start from the city center, and then exit the capital passing Buenos Aires' famed obelisk, its main landmark.

The route goes northwest with the racers crossing into Chile on 5 January. Participants then head north through the Atacama desert and on Jan. 7 are expected to reach Arica in the far north of Chile, on the border with Peru. The race then turns south and crosses back into Argentina on Jan. 12.

The rally was held through 2007 in Africa, but moved for security reasons to South America.

"I hope we can host a fourth Dakar in 2012," tourism minister Enrique Meyer said.