All Stories DAKAR

Nancy Knapp Schilke, Dakar Correspondent

Motorsport.com staff reporters

Mikko Jalonen, DAKAR correspondent

Following Marc Coma’s withdrawal from the Dakar 2013, Cyril Despres’ chances of winning the title a fifth time have certainly improved… but the competition for the French rider could be even stronger.

Team-by-team preview for the Pan-American challenge in Peru, Argentina and Chile. While the location has changed over the years, the 35th edition will continue the tradition of being extremely demanding on the drivers and their equipment.

Dakar 2013 teams, drivers, and riders are ready to take on the 8,500 kilometres of roads, tracks and dunes.

449 racing machines were scheduled to start in this year’s edition of the Dakar! The route for the opening stage in Peru was an easy one taking them from Lima to Pisco.

Olympic Gold medal winner Nasser Al-Attiyah took the Car victory on the third say of Dakar 2013. Local hero Francisco Lopez now has two stage wins in the Bike classification. Triple winner now in Trucks, and Patronelli holds Quad lead.

From Peru to Chile, the change of scenery and terrain saw the X-raid Mini team on the attack, along with Robby Gordon in his Hummer. It also was the first Bike stage win in 2013 for Yamaha; thanks to David Casteu.

It was a day where the overall leaders held their ground even without winning the first special stage in Chile today. Now those who remain will rest in Calama before taking on their next challenge in the magnificent Andes mountain range.

The death of one of the riders overshadowed the seventh day of the 2013 Dakar. Thomas Bourgin died in a freak road accident before the special stage had even started. There was no celebration at the end of the first marathon.

Wet Argentinean stage ends early for Cars and officials delay final call. Barreda takes Bikes win in morning, though, while category leaders run astray.

Rest day in Tucumán, Argentina, gives the Dakar competitors a chance to regroup and get the much needed sleep before they tackle the 9th stage.

Cyril Despres dominates for overall Bike lead, but Joan Barreda takes his 4th stage win. Orlando Terranova celebrated as first Argentinean to lead a Dakar stage in the Car classification!

One Mini benefits from another's mistake while the Dutch Yamaha rider makes first 2013 appearance. Husseini breaks through in Quads while Russians manage Trucks 1-2-3.

Chaleco and Gordon at full pelt! On the penultimate stage in this year's Dakar, a show was put on by Francisco "Chaleco” Lopez on as he notched his 4th stage win. Robby Gordon grabbed his second special victory in his Hummer.

Peterhansel now has 11 Dakar wins! Despres earns another title to make it five in total. Patronelli takes his second championship. New to the legend status was Nikolaev.