Asuncion: The 2017 Dakar Rally, set to begin from January 2, is the "most important" event in the history of sports in Paraguay, the country's national sports secretary said.

"It's an extreme competition at the highest level of performance," Victor Pecci told Efe on Wednesday.

Asuncion, the starting point for the gruelling race, has been preparing for the arrival of the competitors, vehicles and thousands of support staff involved in creating the Dakar experience.

The 39th edition of Dakar, and the ninth to be held in the Americas, will conclude on January 14 in Buenos Aires.

The race features competitions in five categories: cars, motorcycles, trucks, quad bikes and utility task vehicles (UTV), a light off-road vehicle.

Fifty nine nations will be represented in the 2017 edition of Dakar, Pecci said.

The race vehicles will be kept at the Ñu Guasu airbase in Luque, a suburb of Asuncion, until New Year's Day, when they will be taken into the capital for the official presentation on the eve of the start.