THE DAKAR RALLY

2009

• The Dakar Rally was traditionally an off-road multi-stage race from Paris to Dakar, Senegal. However, due to fears of terrorist attacks, the Rally was cancelled last year - and this year moved to an entirely different continent, South America. 540 teams started the 2009 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 3rd and after 9,578 kilometres (5,951 mi) in 14 stages, returned to Buenos Aires on January 17th.

• Back in France, a small group of die-hard African Rally fans decided to stage their own version of the Dakar, following the traditional route despite any terrorist threat and have dubbed their version the "Africa Race“ and 27 drivers started out from Marseille, France on December 28th. Here are some photographs of the official Dakar Rally (in South America) and a few of its shadow competition, the Africa Race.

Laurent Casters jumps his bike during the eleventh stage between Idini and Saint-Louis (419 kilometers) of the first edition of the Africa Race, on January 10, 2009

Italian Giacomo Vismara in his Unimog in the 797-kilometer fourth stage of first edition of the Africa Race, on January 02, 2009

Spaniard Juan Manuel Pellicer rides his BMW during the Seventh stage between El Ayounand Bou Lanouar (899 kilometers) in the first edition of the Africa Race, on January 06, 2009

French Jean-Louis Schlesser is seen in his Schlesser buggy during the eleventh stagebetween Idini and Saint-Louis (419 kilometers) of the first edition of the Africa Race, on January 10, 2009.

Carlos Sainz of Spain works to keep his Volkswagen on the track during the fourthstage of the 2009 Dakar between Jacobacci and Neuquen, Argentina, on January 6, 2009

Robby Gordon of the US catches some air in his Hummer during the sixth stage of the 2009 Dakar rally between San Rafael and Mendoza, Argentina, on January 8, 2009

KTM rider Marc Coma of Spain seen during the 6th stage of the ArgentinaDakar Rally 2009 between San Rafael and Mendoza, Argentina, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009

France's Eric Vigouroux and his Hummer are briefly shrouded in dust duringthe 2nd stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009

Two riders pass over a dune during the sixth stage of the 2009 DakarBetween San Rafael and Mendoza, January 08, 2009

Mitsubishi driver Stephane Peterhansel, of France, seen during the 3rd stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeniero Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.

Gerard Farres Guell of Spain on his KTM during the fourth stage of the 2009 Dakar between Jacobacci and Neuquen, Argentina on January 6, 2009

Cyril Despres of France steers his KTM during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2009, between Valparaiso and La Serena, Chile on January 11, 2009.

Russia's Leonid Novitskiy and co-driver Oleg Tyupenkin in their BMW after the start of the South American edition of the Dakar 2009 in Saladillo, 180 kilometers south-westof Buenos Aires, January 3, 2009

Robbyn Gordon of the US in his Hummer during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2009, between Valparaiso and La Serena, Chile

Qatar's Saleh Nasser Al Attiyah and co-driver Tina Thorner with BMW driving the488 kilometres (303 miles) of the fourth stage of the South American edition of theDakar 2009 from Ingeniero Jacobacci to Neuquen, in the Argentina's Patagonian Villa El Chocon, January 6, 2009

Marc Coma of Spain rides his KTM during the sixth stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between San Rafael and Mendoza, Argentina, on January 8, 2009

Volkswagen driver Mark Miller of U.S. during the 8th stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Valparaiso and La Serena, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009.

KTM rider Luc Pagnon of France crosses a stream during the 3rd stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeneiro Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009

Spain's Marc Coma on his KTM during the sixth stage of the Dakar 2009 from San Rafael to Mendoza, January 8, 2009.

The Dakar encampment on a rest day during the Argentina Dakar Rallyin Valparaiso, Chile, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009

Under a rainbow, mechanics work on a bike after the 5th stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Neuquen and San Rafael, Argentina, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009

THE END

You Can Keep Listening To The Music Or Press ‘Esc’ To Exit