The Dakar Rally is without a doubt the most gruelling and challenging race in the world. Since 2009, it has been held in South America - Peru, Argentina & Chile. In 2008, the threat of kidnapping from hostile rebel forces involved in civil wars in the African countries that use to stage the Dakar forced the organizers to cancell the race and move the race to South America.
Anybody with a budget fat enough can enter. You fill out your application, pay your fee's, and you're a player. Then you would have to complete all 14 stages, more than 9000 Kms in total, to claim you actually finished.
Here is a link to watch stage 13 from yesterday. Stage 14 - today - will mark the end of the race. Moreover, you can back track and watch all of the previous stages. Well worth your time to watch, especially if you're a motorsport adrenaline junkie.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNARLtv#p/u/0/h7-boh7NsUE
Long live the spirit of the Dakar Rally.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/dakar_rally_2012.html