Race in the desert

The Dakar Rally runs from Europe through west Africa over some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet

The race is dangerous and Andy Caldecott was killed on Monday, six days after this picture was taken, when he crashed on the ninth stage

Huge Saharan sand dunes form formidable obstacles, but Jutta Kleinschmidt shows no signs of backing off as she flies over a dune in Mauritania

In addition to cars and motorbikes the field also contains massive trucks - this one is being driven by Hans Stacey

Despite being in the middle of the desert the road is far from straight and concentration must be total

Helicopters belonging to TV and the race organisers follow the drivers through the sand-scape

South African driver Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Tina Thorner throw up a dust trail in their Volkswagen Touareg

But the Dakar is not just about wide expanses of desert - Stephane Peterhansel blasts through a village in Mauritania

When the sand is packed high speeds can be reached and keeping the bike on the uneven ground can prove a problem

The race tackles some near-impassable sand dunes, with motorbikes often struggling to make it through the desert

And even if the competitors make it to the top there is plenty of desert still to be covered

Jutta Kleinschmidt braves the rocky terrain of Mauritania on the ninth stage between Nouakchott and Kiffa

But often dust is the problem, as anyone following Giniel de Villiers' VW would have found on the 12th stage between Mali and Guinea

Stephane Peterhansel led for a long time before dashing his hopes in a collision with a tree

Double world rally champion Carlos Sainz nears the end of his first Dakar Rally as he enters Senegal on Friday

Back

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Next