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January 5, 2009
The 30th edition of the Dakar Rally begins in Argentina
The 30th edition of the Dakar Rally started from Buenos Aires on Friday with 177 cars, 217 motorcycles, 81 trucks and 25 quad bikes and features drivers from 49 countries. After 14 stages covering 5,950 miles, it will finish on Jan. 18 back in Buenos Aires.
The rally is being held in South America for the first time after being canceled in 2008 because of the threat of terrorist attacks along its traditional route in Africa.
A persistent drought has turned massive swaths of Argentina's soil to dust, forcing drivers to navigate through clouds of brown dirt. Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah won the third stage of the classic rally on Monday, edging former world rally champion and overall leader Carlos Sainz of Spain. (25 images)

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Mitsubishi driver Stephane Peterhansel, of France, right, competes during the third stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeneiro Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. The other drivers are unidentified. AP / Christophe Ena


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An unidentified rider competes in the first stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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KTM's rider, Cyril Despres, of France, competes in the first stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. AP / Gabriel Bouys / Pool



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Gerard List of The Netherlands rides his Yamaha during the third stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeneiro Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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A driver steers his BMW during the third stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeniero Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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KTM rider Miguel Puertas Herrera of Spain takes off his helmet during the third stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeneiro Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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France's David Fretigne rides his Yamaha during the third stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeniero Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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A car competes during the second stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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France's Eric Vigouroux steers his Hummer during the second stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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A car passes next to Yamaha rider Thibault Lormand, of France, after he fell during the first stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. Lormand was later evacuated and is out of the race. AP / Christophe Ena



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KTM rider David Casteu, of France, throws his tire tube during the first stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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KTM's rider Gerard Guell Farres, of Spain, rides without a back tire during the first stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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KTM rider Ennio Cucurachi, of Italy, grimaces after the second stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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Mitsubishi driver Stephane Peterhansel, of France, competes during the third stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Puerto Madryn and Ingeniero Jacobacci, Argentina, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. AP / Christophe Ena



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David Casteu of France rests during the third motorcycle stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between Puerto Madryn and Jacobacci, in Argentina, on Jan. 5, 2009. Marc Coma of Spain won the stage and keeps the lead of the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Christian Califano of France rests during the third motorcycle stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between Puerto Madryn and Jacobacci, in Argentina, on Jan. 5, 2009. Marc Coma of Spain won the stage and keeps the lead of the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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A competitor steers his KTM motorcycle during the third motorcycle stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between Puerto Madryn and Jacobacci, in Argentina, on Jan. 5, 2009. Marc Coma of Spain won the stage and keeps the lead of the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Cyril Despres of France steers his KTM motorcycle during the third motorcycle stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between Puerto Madryn and Jacobacci, in Argentina, on Jan. 5, 2009. Marc Coma of Spain won the stage and keeps the lead of the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa steers his Volkswagen during the third car stage of the 2009 Dakar between Puerto Madryn and Jacobacci, in Argentina, on Jan. 5, 2009. Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar won the stage but Carlos Sainz of Spain still leads the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Mark Miller of the US during the third car stage of the 2009 Dakar between Puerto Madryn and Jacobacci, in Argentina, on Jan. 5, 2009. Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar won the satge but Carlos Sainz still leads the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Lazlo Palik of Hungary steers his Nissan during the second stage of the 2009 Dakar between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina on Jan. 4, 2009. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and took the lead of the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Leonid Novitskiy of Russia steers his BMW during the second stage of the 2009 Dakar between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina on Jan. 4, 2009. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and took the lead of the race. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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A driver steers his Hummer during the second stage of the 2009 Dakar between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina on Jan. 4, 2009. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Nani Roma of Spain steers his Mitsubishi during the first stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally as spectators watch between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa on Jan. 3, 2009. Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar won the stage. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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Stephane Peterhansel of France drives his Mitsubishi during the first stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally as spectatros watch between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa on Jan. 3, 2009. Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar won the stage. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys



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