Dakar Rally 2011

Before moving on to 2011, we'll start off with some beautiful and nostalgic pictures from the past races. The Dakar 2011 Rally race takes place in Argentina and Chile from 01 to 16 January 2011.

Rally men competing in the 1980 edition of Paris-Dakar rally gather at Trocadero esplanade in front ofthe Eiffel tower in Paris 01 January 1980 prior the 1st stage of the rally.

Rally men competing in the 1980 edition of Paris-Dakar rally arrives at Trocadero esplanade in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris 01 January 1980 prior the 1st stage of the rally.

Mark Thatcher and his team mate Charlotte Verney during first special race of Paris-Dakar rally at Orleans (west of Paris) on their Peugeot-Dangel car. 1982.

French Paris/Dakar rally organizer Thierry Sabine stands near his broken down helicopter during the Tamanrasset/Agades lap of the race 15 January 1985

Swiss motorcyclist Myrek Kubicek rests a while (near his motorbike KTM 600) after the 3rd lap of the 7th rally Paris-Algiers-Dakar, between Quargla and El Golea (Algeria), 01/04/85

Competitors and officials search near the remains of the helicopter of the Paris-Dakar rally organizer Frenchman Thierry Sabine, after it crashed 14 January 1986 near Gourma-Rharous (Mali), while trying to rescue competitors lost in a heavy sand storm. All five persons onboard, with among them French singer Daniel Balavoine, died in the accident.

French Alex Tramelli tries to escape from being bogged down in the sand in the stage linking Beni Ounif to El Golea, Algeria during the Paris-Dakar rally 06 January 1993.

French Bruno Saby, aboard his Mitsubishi, drives across the desert in the stage Cherachen-Bir-Ambrane of the Paris-Dakar rally Jan, 12, 1993 . Saby remains the overall leader

Italians Gianni Lamia Lora and Roberto di Persio get out of their Nissan Patrol after their accident during the first stage of the 21st edition of the Dakar Rally near Granada 01 January 1999.

Rescue workers arrive 19 January 2000 at the scene where four cars taking part in the 13th stage of the Dakar Rally were involved in a smash during the Waha-Kofra stage, injuring 8 participants.

US driver Robby Gordon steers his Hummer with co-driver Andy Grider during the symbolic start of the Dakar 2011 Rally in downtown Buenos Aires on January 1, 2011.

People watch from the Santa Rosa river as France's driver Stephane Peterhansel steers his BMW with co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret during the stage 1 Victoria-Cordoba of the Dakar 2011 Rally on January 2, 2011

Qatar's driver Nasser Al-Attiyah steers his Volkswagen across the Santa Rosa river with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk, during the stage 1 Victoria-Cordoba of the Dakar 2011 Rally, on January 2, 2011.

Dutch driver Frits van Eerd during stage 1 Victoria-Cordoba of the Dakar 2011 Rally, on January 2, 2011.

Qatar's driver Nasser Al-Attiyah steers his Volkswagen across the Elcano stream with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk, during the stage 1 Victoria-Cordoba of the Dakar 2011 Rally, on January 2, 2011.

Argentina's Alejandro Patronelli rides his Yamaha quad across the Elcano stream, during the stage 1 Victoria-Cordoba of the Dakar 2011 Rally, on January 2, 2011.

US Robby Gordon and Andy Grider in action in their Hummer during the second stage of the Dakar Rally 2011 from Victoria to Cordoba, Argentina, Sunday 02 January 2011.

Spain's Nani Roma and Gilles Picard in action in their Nissan Overdrive during the second stage of the Dakar Rally 2011 from Victoria to Cordoba, Argentina, Sunday 02 January 2011.

A man complains agaisnst the race with a banner during the second stage that has started in Cordoba and will finish in Tucuman, Argentina on 03 January 2011.

Qatar's driver Nasser Al-Attiyah steers his Volkswagen with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk on January 3, 2011 on the stage 2 Cordoba-Tucuman of the 2011 Dakar Rally.

Spain's driver Nani Roma steers his Nissan with French co-driver Gilles Picard on January 3, 2011 during the stage 2 Cordoba-Tucuman of the 2011 Dakar Rally.

Argentinean rider Rodolfo Bollero receives treatment following an accident during the third stage of the Rally Dakar 2011 between Tucuman and Jujuy, Argentina, 04 January 2011.

France's biker Cyril Despres rides his KTM through the San Rafael canyon on January 4, 2011 on the stage 3 Tucuman-Jujuy of the 2011 Dakar Rally in Argentina.

Argentina's Santiago Hansen rides his Polaris quad through the San Rafael canyon on January 4, 2011 on the stage 3 Tucuman-Jujuy of the 2011 Dakar Rally in Argentina.

A motor cyclist pictured in action during the second stage of the Dakar Rally 2011 from San Miguel de Tucuman to San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina, Tuesday 04 January 2011

A jeep pictured in action with a helicopter during the second stage of the Dakar Rally 2011 from San Miguel de Tucuman to San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina, Tuesday 04 January 2011.

Dutch truck driver Peter van den Bosch with his DAF during the third stage of the Rally Dakar 2011 between Tucuman and Jujuy, Argentina, 04 January 2011.