The 2015 running of the Dakar Rally has officially come to an end. The official scores and ranking are out and podium placements have been taken. Bringing home the top prizes are four race teams->ke148 in each of the four categories: bikes, quads, cars, and trucks. Robby Gordon’s team, one of only two teams to compete with U.S. citizens, took home 19th overall place in the cars division. Major mechanical setbacks, including overheating brakes, in Stage 2 cost Gordon and his co-driver Johnny Campbell a considerable amount of time, resulting in a game of catch-up for the remaining 11 stages. They ended Stage 2 in 50th place.

Gordon’s luck turned around when he took first place in the 13th and final stage of the Dakar, marking his 10th Stage win since he started the racing series. Gordon also finished second on the first stage and third in the fifth stage. In total, Gordon managed to place in the top 10 finishers of five of the stages.

Despite three podium finishes in individual stages, Gordon is undoubtedly disappointed in his 19th place finishing, as scoring an overall podium place finish was his main goal for 2015. Gordon’s final time was 48 hours, 20 minutes, and five seconds.

Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar finished in first place with a time of 40 hours, 32 minutes, and 25 seconds. (Click here for the full scoreboard)

Gordon is likely to compete in the event nest year as well, still in search of that elusive podium finish he’s craved for the last 11 years.

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Why it Matters

The Dakar Rally is perhaps the toughest, most brutal endurance race of all time, covering some 2,600 miles over the course of 13 days and 13 stages. Rugged terrain and hundreds of other competitors in four vehicle categories add to the difficulty. The fact anyone can even finish this race is beyond spectacular.