The 2010 Dakar Rally is nearing completion with several of the classes still up for grabs. The rally which used to be called the Paris to Dakar rally due to it’s longtime route, is now contested in South America because of jerks in the desert with guns. While there was a lot of initial skepticism about moving the race to a different continent, the South American terrain has proved to be as tough or even tougher than the stuff the racers used to slog through.

We were tipped off to a totally bitchin’ gallery of large photos by MSD’s Todd Ryden. In a slightly embarassing twist, the photos are found on Boston.com. Embarassing because a guy in El Paso, Texas scooped us on something in our own cyber-backyard.

These nearly 40 photos show a lot about the spectacle of the race, the dangers faced by racers and fans alike, and the conditions that competitors must work and live under to compete. There are few more hard core races in the world.

Thanks for the tip MSD Todd!

SOURCE: Boston.com: Dakar Rally 2010