The bike of Australia's Garry Connell is decked out in green, gold and the stars of the Southern Cross [GETTY]

Aussies at Dakar 2010

17 Jan 2010, 6:30 AM

Follow the stage-by-stage progress of all the Australian competitors at Dakar 2010 in Argentina and Chile.

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Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki in their Isuzu D-Max diesel ute are the only Australian team in the car category, while Christophe Barriere-Varju, Rob Pollard and Garry Connell fly the Aussie flag in the motorbike category.

STAGE 1 - Colon to Cordoba
The opening stage of Dakar 2010 was a mostly flat run through farmland and countryside between Colon and Cordoba. The special stage distance was reduced from 251km to 199km due to flooding.

Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki took it slow and steady in their Isuzu D-Max, finishing 27th fastest, behind stage winner Nani Roma in a BMW.

France's David Casteu won Stage 1 in the motorbikes category in a time of 1 hour, 50 minutes and 42 seconds.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was the best of the Aussie riders on Stage 1, finishing in 72nd place, 25 minutes and 7 seconds behind Casteu.

Rob Pollard's opening stage time was 35:54 slower than the stage winner to put him in 105th place, with Garry Connell not far behind in 109th position, 37:51 adrift.

STAGE 2 - Cordoba to La Rioja
Another solid day for the Aussies at Dakar 2010.

In the bikes, Rob Pollard was the big mover as he finished the stage a remarkable 30th fastest, just 24 minutes and 25 seconds behind stage winner David Fretigne.

That result put Pollard in 49th place overall after two stages.

Christophe Barriere-Varju finished the stage 94th fastest to be 80th overall, while Garry Connell was 119th over the second day course for an overall position of 112th.

In the car category, Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki finished a provisional 25th fastest on Stage two, for an overall position of 23rd.

Stage 3 is said to be one of the toughest in the rally which could see some major attrition in both cars and bikes.

STAGE 3 - La Rioja to Fiambala
In the car category good progress was made by Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki, with a 19th place finish on Stage 3 moving them up to 20th overall.

In the bikes, Christophe Barriere-Varju moved up 13 places in the overall rankings to 67th, after finishing 66th on the dunes of Stage 3.

Rob Pollard finished 59th-fastest on the stage to be 55th overall.

Unfortunately Garry Connell has withdrawn from the race on Stage 3 after falling awkwardly in the sand dunes.

STAGE 4 - Fiambala to Copiapo
A stage of consolidation for the remaining Aussies in the 2010 Dakar. After a tough stage through the dunes, competitors have now made their way into Chile for the first time.

Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki finished 23rd-fastest on Stage 4, moving up to 19th place overall in their Isuzu D-Max ute.

In the motorbike category, Rob Pollard continues to impress by finishing Stage 4 just 30 minutes behind the stage winner Marc Coma. Pollard was 35th-fastest, moving him up to 51st overall.

Christophe Barriere-Varju also advanced in the overall standing to 64th after a 75th-fasest finish on Stage 4.

STAGE 5 - Copiapo to Antofagasta
Another steady stage for the remaining three Australians in the 2010 Dakar, as competitors got a taste of their first full stage in Chile.

In the motorbikes, Christophe Barriere-Varju finished 55th-fastest on Stage 5 and now sits 61st overall.

Rob Pollard was close behind his compatriot on the stage, finishing in 57th place, putting him in 48th position overall.

Meanwhile in the car category Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki continued to keep their steady pace with a 24th-fastest finish on the stage. The Aussie Isuzu D-Max team now sit 21st overall after five stages.

STAGE 6 - Antofagasta to Iquique
The Dakar moved to northern-Chile on Stage 6, and the coastal town of Iquique.

In the motorbikes, Rob Pollard finished 46th-fastest on the stage for an overall position of 43rd.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was 66th on Stage 6 and is now 58th overall.

Meanwhile in the car category, Australia's Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki are unfortunately out of the race after enduring a horror day.

Garland and Suzuki smashed their radiator in unlucky circumstances and were not able to fully complete the Stage 6 course.

The Dakar is fast turning into a race of attrition as more competitors withdraw each day.

STAGE 7 - Iquique to Antofagasta
There are now only two Australians still running in the 2010 Dakar, and they are both on motorbikes.

Rob Pollard continues his climb up the overall standings and is now 42nd overall after finishing 48th fastest on Stage 7 – a massive 600km special stage.

Christophe Barriere-Varju is also on the way up after his 68th placing on the stage between Iquique and Antofagasta. The French-born Australian is now 57th overall.

Competitors will enjoy a well-earned rest day in Antofagasta on day eight of the rally, before taking on Stage 8 back down to Copiapo.

STAGE 8 - Antofagasta to Copiapo

The two remaining Aussies got home safely on Stage 8.

Rob Pollard finished 40th fastest on the stage for an overall position of 41.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was 65th fastest today and sits 64th in the overall standings. The French-born Australian has accrued four hours of time penalty, possibly due to his malfunctioning GPS system.

Stage 9 will take competitors further south down the Chilean coast to the town of La Serena.

STAGE 9 – Copiapo to La Serena

A special stage shortened due to fog greeted competitors on Stage 9.

Rob Pollard finished 38th fastest on the stage and now sits 42nd overall.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was 65th home on Stage 9 and is in 63rd position in the overall standings.

The Dakar makes its way to the Chilean capital Santiago on Stage 10.

STAGE 10 – La Serena to Santiago

Both remaining Aussies are again home safely after Stage 10, the final leg in Chile before the rally heads back east to Argentina.

Rob Pollard finished 46th fastest on the stage to be 43rd overall.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was 66th fastest, and sits 58th in the overall standings.

STAGE 11 - Santiago to San Juan

Stage 11 of the 2010 Dakar saw competitors head back into Argentina. The two remaining Aussies in the race can now set their sights on finishing the rally in Buenos Aires.

Rob Pollard completed the stage 45th fastest and is now 41st overall.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was 71st on the stage and sits 57th outright.

STAGE 12 - San Juan to San Rafael

The two remaining Aussies set their sights on finishing in Buenos Aires after successfully completing 12 stages out of the scheduled 14.

Rob Pollard was 33rd fastest between San Juan and San Rafael, and is now into the Top 40 overall, in 37th place!

Christophe Barriere-Varju finished 54th fastest on the stage, and sits in 53rd position overall.

STAGE 13 - San Rafael to Santa Rosa

The Aussies have survived the penultimate stage of the 2010 Dakar, and are now just over 700km away from the finish line in Buenos Aires.

Rob Pollard finished the stage 28th fastest, for an overall position of 38th.

Christophe Barriere-Varju was 57th fastest on Stage 13, and sits 56th overall.

Competitors have a final special stage of 206km before a 335km liaison takes them into the heart of Buenos Aires on the final day.

STAGE 14 - Santa Rosa to Buenos Aires

Two Aussies complete the 2010 Dakar Rally!

Motorbike riders Rob Pollard and Christophe Barriere-Varju have finished the 2010 Dakar Rally as competitors returned to the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires.

Pollard was 34th fastest on the final stage and finished 38th overall.

Barriere-Varju was 58th on the last stage, for an outright finishing place of 56.

This is a magnificent achievement for both riders.