DAKAR RALLY 2012

South African Giniel de Villiers drives his car along a road in the Argentine province of Catamarca on January 6, 2012, a day in which organizers were forced to cancel the sixth stage between Fiambala in Argentina and Copiapo in Chile due to summer snow in the Andes.

Traversing over 8000 miles through Argentina, Chile, and Peru, the Dakar rally pits drivers and riders against each other and against extreme terrain. The 14-stage race attracts competitors from over 50 countries to race 465 vehicles - motorcycles, quad bikes, cars, and trucks - through deserts, rivers, and mountains. The race has seen its share of tragedy over the years, and the 2012 edition is no different, with Argentine motorcycle rider Jorge Boero dying after a crash near the end of the very first stage, and two spectators dying when their ultralight aircraft crashed. Begun on January 1st, the race concludes Saturday in Lima, Peru.

South Africa's driver Alfie Cox (left) and co-pilot Jurgen Schroder leave their Volvo XC60 Pewano burning during stage one between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina on January 1, 2012.

Franz Echter of Germany drives around the burning car of Jose Antonio Blangion of Argentina during stage one from Mar Del Plata to Santa Rosa de la Pampa on January 1, 2012 in Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina.

Pieter Versluis of The Netherlands drives his MAN truck through a stream during stage one from Mar Del Plata to Santa Rosa de la Pampa on January 1, 2012 in Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina.

Kazakstan's Artur Ardavichus and co-pilots Alexey Kumich of Russia and Kazakstan's Nurlan Turlubaev drive their Kamaz truck during the third stage from San Rafael to San Juan on January 3, 2012.

Marc Coma races his KTM in the 10th stage of the 2012 Argentina-Chile-Peru Dakar Rally between Iquique and Arica, Chile on January 11, 2012.

Giniel De Villiers, from South Africa, and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz, from Germany, try to push their car after it went off the road during the fifth stage between Chilecito and Fiambala in Argentina on January 5, 2012.

Drivers compete during the fifth stage between Chilecito and Fiambala in Argentina on January 5, 2012.


Argentina's Marcos Patronelli races his Yamaha quad as a helicopter flies over during the seventh stage through Copiapo, Chile on January 7, 2012.

Spain's Gerard Farres Guell rides his KTM during the fourth stage from San Juan to Chilecito on January 4, 2012.

Marc Coma of Spain races on stage seven from Copiapo to Copiapo on January 7, 2012 in Copiapo, Chile.

Andrey Karginov of Russia and co-drivers Andrey Mokeev and Igor Devyatkin attempt to free their Kamaz truck after it became stuck on top of a sand dune during stage seven in Copiapo, Chile on January 7, 2012.

A quad bike rider makes his way into the Chilean mountains during stage seven in Copiapo, Chile on January 7, 2012.

Mechanics prepare the MAN truck of France's Raphael Gimbre on the eve of the eighth stage in Copiapo, Chile on January 8, 2012.

Competitors ride their motorbikes during stage seven in Copiapo, Chile on January 7, 2012.

Bruno Bony of France and Eric Palante of Belgium ride along a valley floor during stage eight from Copiapo to Antofagasta on January 9, 2012.

Etienne Lormand of France rides his Yamaha on stage nine in Iquique, Chile on January 10, 2010.

Spain's Nani Roma and co-pilot Michel Perin of France drive their Mini Monster during the 10th stage of the fourth South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2012 from Iquique to Arica January 11, 2012.

Joan Pedrero of Spain races his KTM in the tenth stage between Iquique and Arica, Chile on January 11, 2012

Injured biker Xavier Pizzolito of Argentina is carried to a helicopter during the eighth stage between Copiapo and Antofagasta in Chile on January 9, 2012.