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South Africa's Giniel De Villiers and co-pilot Dirk Von Zitzewitz wave from their Volkswagen during the symbolic start of the 2009 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires at Plaza de la Republica square. The 2009 Dakar, a 9000 km loop including 6000 of specials between Buenos Aires, Valparaiso and Buenos Aires, took place in Argentina and Chile from the 3rd to the 18th of January. (Alejandro Pagni, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa drives his Volkswagen Touareg during the first stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally as spectators watched between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa. Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar won the stage. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa drives his Volkswagen Touareg during the first stage of the 2009 Dakar Rally between Buenos Aires and Santa Rosa de la Pampa. Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar won the stage. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa steers his Volkswagen during the second stage of the 2009 Dakar between Santa Rosa de la Pampa and Puerto Madryn, Argentina. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and took the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa steers his Volkswagen during the fourth stage of the 2009 Dakar between Jacobacci and Neuquen, Argentina. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and keeps the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa steers his Volkswagen during the fifth stage of the 2009 Dakar between Neuquen and San Rafael, Argentina. De Villiers won the stage and Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar took the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers steers his Volkswagen during the sixth stage of the 2009 Dakar rally between San Rafael and Mendoza, Argentina. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers steers his Volkswagen during the seventh stage of the 2009 Dakar rally. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa steers his Volkswagen during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2009, between Valparaiso and La Serena, Chile. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and keeps the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa during the 9th stage of the Dakar 2009, between La Serena and Copiapo, Chile. Carlos Sainz won the stage and kept the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa during the 9th stage of the Dakar 2009, between La Serena and Copiapo, Chile. Carlos Sainz won the stage and kept the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Volkswagen's Carlos Sainz (L) of Spain, Giniel de Villiers of South Africa and Mark Miller (R) of the US, chat before the 10th stage of the Dakar 2009, around Copiapo, Chile. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa in action during the 10th stage of the Dakar 2009, around Copiapo, Chile. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and kept the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa is stopped in the sand during the 10th stage of the Dakar 2009, around Copiapo, Chile. Carlos Sainz of Spain won the stage and kept the lead of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers during the 12th stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between Fiambala and La Rioja, Argentina. (AFP)
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Giniel de Villiers of South Africa steers his Volkswagen during the 13th stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between La Rioja and Cordoba, Argentina. Nani Roma of Sapin won the stage while Giniel de Villiers leads of the race. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa celebrates after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally. Giniel De Villiers won the race, Mark Miller of the US took the second place on Volkswagen and Robby Gordon of the US, took the third with his Hummer. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa celebrates after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally in Carcarana, after the last stage between Cordoba and Buenos Aires. Giniel De Villiers won the race, Mark Miller of the US took the second place on Volkswagen and Robby Gordon of the US, took the third with his Hummer. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Volkswagen's co-drivers Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany and Ralph Pitchford of South Africa, team manager Kris Nissen and drivers Mark Miller of the US and Giniel De Villiers of South Africa (L to R) celebrate after the 2009 Dakar Rally. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa celebrates after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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South African driver Giniel De Villiers (R) and German co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewits celebrate on their Volkswagen at Park Ferme after wining the 2009 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires. (Alejandro Pagni, AFP)
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South African driver Giniel De Villiers (R) and German co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewits steer their Volkswagen to Park Ferme after wining the 2009 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires. (Alejandro Pagni, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa celebrates after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally in Carcarana, after the last stage between Cordoba and Buenos Aires. Giniel De Villiers won the race, Mark Miller of the US took the second place on Volkswagen and Robby Gordon of the US, took the third with his Hummer. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa kisses his Volkswagen after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally, on January 17, 2009, in Carcarana, after the last stage between Cordoba and Buenos Aires. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Volkswagen's driver Giniel De Villiers of South Africa (L), team manager Kris Nissen and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany (R) celebrate after winning the 2009 Dakar Rally in Carcarana, after the last stage between Cordoba and Buenos Aires. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers of South Africa celebrates with the trophy after the podium ceremony of the 2009 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Volkswagen's Giniel De Villiers (C) of South Africa and his co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany celebrate during the podium ceremony of the 2009 Dakar Rally. Giniel De Villiers won the race, Mark Miller of the US took the second place on Volkswagen and Robby Gordon of the US, took the third with his Hummer. (Alejandro Pagni, AFP)
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Volkswagen's co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany (L) and driver Giniel De Villiers of South Africa celebrate during the podium ceremony of the 2009 Dakar Rally. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP)
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Volkswagen's team celebrates the first place victory of South Africa 's Giniel De Villiers and his co-driver Germany's Dirk Von Zitzewitz, as well as the second place of Mark Miller of the US and co-driver South Africa's Ralph Pitchford during the during the podium ceremony of the 2009 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires. (Juan Mabromata, AFP)
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Giniel De Villiers' parents, Smittie and Annamarie de Villiers, pose with a miniture replica of Giniel's winning Volkswagen Touareg. (Leanne Stander)
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