In pictures - the 2011 Dakar Rally

Motorcycles and quads competitors are seen from a helicopter during the start of the ninth stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally in Copiapo, Chile. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Portugal's biker Paulo Goncalves races his BMW in the third stage of the 2011 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between San Miguel de Tucuman and Jujuy, Argentina. Photograph: Daniel Garcia/AP

Mitsubishi driver Erik Van Loon and co-driver Harmen Scholtalbers, both from Holland, power through tough conditions during the 12th stage between San Juan and Cordoba, Argentina. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Mitsubishi's driver Guilherme Spinelli and his co-driver Youssef Haddad, both from Brazil, compete during the fourth stage between Jujuy, Argentina, and Calama, Chile. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Spectators run for cover as Carlos Sainz of Spain drives his Volkswagen Touareg during the fifth stage of rally from Calama to Iquique. Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters

An aerial shot of Mitsubishi's driver Guilherme Spinelli of Brazil and his co-driver Youssef Haddad racing in the 12th stage between San Juan and Cordoba. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

The BMW driver Guerlain Chicherit and his co-driver Michel Perin, from France, race their car in the sixth stage between Iquique and Arica in Chile. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Mechanics work on the car of Volkswagen's driver Mark Miller, from the United States, and his co-driver Ralph Pitchford, of South Africa, at the camp after the second stage of the rally. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Chile's biker Francisco "Chaleco" López races his Aprilia in the 11th stage of the rally between Chilecito and San Juan, Argentina. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

The Volkswagen driver Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz, both from Spain, compete during the second stage of the rally between Cordoba and San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

A spectator waves as Argentina's Tomas Maffei races his Yamaha quad during the 11th stage between Chilecito and San Juan. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

The French driver Stéphane Peterhansel steers his BMW with co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret during the 12th stage. Photograph: Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images

People cheer as a biker forges on during the 12th stage between San Juan and Cordoba. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Volkswagen's Nasser Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk, from Germany, compete in the 11th stage between Chilecito and San Juan. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

KTM MRW Rally Factory's Juan Pedrero Garcia rides through barren terrain between Iquique and Arica in Chile. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Annie Seel of Sweden crashes during the 12th stage of the rally from San Juan to Cordoba. Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Fans sit on a dune to watch the ninth stage in Copiapo, Chile. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

A rider battles the conditions during the sixth stage between Iquique and Arica in Chile. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar bites his trophy as he celebrates his victory during the podium ceremony in Buenos Aires. Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters

The Volkswagen driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, celebrates at the 2011 podium ceremony in Buenos Aires. Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

The Kamaz driver Vladimir Chagin, from Russia, right, celebrates with team-mates on the top of his truck during the podium ceremony in Buenos Aires Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Alejandro Patronelli of Argentina, winner of the quad category of the third South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2011, celebrates during the award ceremony in Buenos Aires. Photograph: Enrique Marcarian/Reuters