2018 Dakar Rally: Amazing pictures from the race tracks

This year’s Dakar Rally, its 40th annual competition, kicked off with a ceremonial start in Lima, Peru, on 6 January. A group of 335 competitors started the two-week off-roading adventure through Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, with “power” vehicles which include specialized cars, trucks, motorcycles, and quad bikes.

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Bolivian president Evo Morales waves while he waits for the departure of the bikes in Bolivia on Stage 6 of Dakar 2018

The supercharged race events are currently on stage 12 of 14 stages between Lima and Córdoba, Argentina.

Due to bad weather conditions, organizers were forced to cancel or shorten a couple of stages so far this year but, ahead of the teams’ final race to the finish line in Córdoba, Argentina on January 20, we’ve brought you some amazing pictures from the previous competitions.

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Toyota’s driver Akira Mirua and co-driver Laurent Lichtleuchter compete in the 2018 Dakar Rally Stage 5 between San Juan De Marcona and Arequipa in Peru, on January 10, 2018.
Zala Vaidotas, Jurgelenas Saulius
Zala Vaidotas, right, and his co-driver Jurgelenas Saulius, both of Lithuania, jump in unison on the podium ramp during the Dakar Rally ceremonial start in Lima, Peru, on January 6, 2018
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DKR Raid Service’s Spanish driver, Cristina Gutierrez Herrero, and her co-driver Gabriel Moiset Ferrer crash their Mitsubishi during Stage 1 of Dakar 2018 between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on January 6, 2018
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Honda biker Joan Barreda Bort rides up a dune in Stage 2 of Dakar 2018 in and around the Peruvian town of Pisco on January 7, 2018
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Mini’s driver, Jakub Przygonski, and co-driver, Tom Colsoul, drive in Stage 2 of Dakar 2018
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A woman lies on the sand as a competitor passes by during the 2018 Dakar Rally Stage 2 near Pisco, Peru
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A man takes pictures as the sun sets at the bivouac after Stage 2 of Dakar 2018
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During Stage 3, the car driven by Alicia Reina and co-driver Carlos Pelayo catches fire between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona, Peru, on January 8, 2018. The drivers escaped uninjured
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Aerial view of the Pacific coast during Stage 4 of Dakar 2018, near San Juan de Marcona, Peru, on January 9, 2018
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Laia Sanz of Spain rests on her KTM before departing for Stage 4 on January 9, 2018
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Bikers compete in Stage 4 of the 2018 Dakar Rally near San Juan De Marcona, Peru, on January 9, 2018
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A Dakar competitor near San Juan De Marcona, Peru, on January 9, 2018
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Driver Cyril Despres and copilot David Castera look over their damaged vehicle during Stage 4 of Dakar 2018
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Sebastian Cavallero of Peru and Arequipenos al Dakar rides a KTM 450 Rally bike in Stage 5 of the Dakar 2018 between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa on January 10, 2018
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Driver Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean Paul Cottret race their Peugeot down a dune during Stage 5 between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa, Peru, on January 10, 2018
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Miguel Angel Alvarez, pilot of the Toyota 364, and Philippe Raud, pilot of the Toyota 400, have a chat atop dunes during Stage 5 of Dakar 2018 on January 10, 2018
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Peugeot driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena drive through dunes in Stage 5 between San Juan De Marcona and Arequipa in Peru, on January 10, 2018
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Daniel Elena, co-driver of this Peugeot car, lies injured on the ground after he and driver Sebastien Loeb ran into sand trouble between San Juan De Marcona and Arequipa on January 10, 2018. Sebastien Loeb was forced to pull out of the Dakar Rally after his co-driver suffered a back injury in a disastrous fifth stage won by defending champion Stephane Peterhansel
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Peugeot driver Stephane Peterhansel, is seen during Stage 6 of the 2018 Dakar Rally between Arequipa and La Paz, Bolivia, on January 11, 2018
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Ton Van Genugten and Bernard Der Kinderen drive their Iveco truck through a stream past spectators during Stage 6 from Arequipa, Peru, to La Paz, Bolivia, on January 11, 2018
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Peugeot driver Stephane Peterhansel and his co-driver Jean Paul Cottret of France arrive in La Paz, Bolivia, at the end of Stage 6 on January 11, 2018
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Bolivian quad driver Walter Nosiglia arrives in La Paz on January 11, 2018
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Stephane Peterhansel drives with co-driver Jean Paul Cottret in the 3008 DKR Peugeot car in Stage 7 between La Paz and Uyuni on January 13, 2018
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A small herd of llamas runs as Diego Martin Duplessis drives his Honda between La Paz and Uyuni, Bolivia on January 13, 2018