The Dakar

The Dakar, the cross-country off-road race named for a place it no longer visits on a continent it abandoned, concluded it's second year away from Africa with teams of 88 motorcycles, 14 quads, 57 cars, and 28 trucks traversing rugged terrain in Argentina and Chile. Security fears led officials to South America. The 5600-mile stage race, spread over two weeks, covered widely varying terrain, including a crossing of the Atacama Desert, and pushed both participants and machines to their limits. ( 30 photos total)

A car races in stage six of The Dakar rally between Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile January 7. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Giniel De Villers and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz attend the symbolic start of the rally in Buenos Aires January 1. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images) #

People watch Jean-Pierre Strugo and co-driver Yves Ferri race their car during stage one in Rio Cuarto, Argentina January 2. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

A man comforts a spectator injured after drivers Mirco Schultis and Ulrich Leardi careered off course in Alpa Corral, Cordoba January 2. The Dakar's grim reputation as the world's deadliest race claimed another victim when a female spectator was killed on the opening stage of the 9,000km event. (HO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Pal Anders Ullevalseter rides during the Stage one between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina January 2. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Francisco Lopez Contardo rides during stage one between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina January 2. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Christian Califano falls during stage two between Cordoba and La Rioja, Argentina January 3. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

David Fretigne pauses during stage three between La Rioja and Fiambala, Argentina January 4. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Rescue personnel evacuate the injured from a crashed Robinson 44 helicopter in Fiambala, Argentina January 4. The pilot, co-pilot and two reporters who were following the second South American edition of The Dakar sustained injuries in the crash. (REUTERS/Ministry of Defense/Handout) #

Driver Bruce Garland rests after stage three in Fiambala, Argentina January 4. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Michael Pisano races during stage four between Fiambala and Copiapo, Chile January 5. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Yoshimasa Sugawara (left) and and co-driver Katsumi Hamura read the road book in their tent at the Dakar encampment after stage four in Copiapo, Chile January 5. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Alejandro Patronelli (front) and his brother Marcos Patronelli race during stage four between Fiambala and Copiapo, Chile January 5. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Alain Delaunay passes Andre Lenoble during stage four between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile January 5. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

A Dakar competitor leaves the Copiapo encampment for the start line before stage five between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile January 6. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Clouds cover part of stage five between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile January 6. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

A racer competes during stage six between Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile January 7. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Carlos Sainz competes during stage six from Antofagasta to Iquique January 7. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

Laurent Lazard waits with his wife before heading to the start line before stage seven between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile January 8. (MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Ruben Faria competes during stage seven between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile January 8. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret compete during stage seven between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile January 8. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Sebastien Halpern gets a massage as a mechanic checks his quad during the rest day in Antofasgasta, Chile January 9. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

Giniel De Villiers races during stage eight between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile January 10. (NATACHA PISARENKO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Stephane Peterhansel competes during stage eight from Antofasgasta to Copiapo, Chile January 10. (REUTERS/Natacha Pisarenko/Pool) #

Motorcyclists start stage nine from Copiapo to La Serena, Chile January 11. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

A mechanic works on a truck early on January 11 before stage nine between Copiapo and La Serana, Chile. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Tamsin Jones (left) works with her chief mechanic Patsy Quick at the Dakar camp after stage nine in La Serena, Chile January 11. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Dust from a passing car covers a spectator holding a Chilean flag during stage ten between La Serena and Santiago January 12. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Frans Verhoeven rides during stage eleven between Santiago and San Juan, Argentina January 13. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Cyril Despres celebrates on the podium in Buenos Aires January 17 after winning the bike category. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The Dakar