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The Wet and Wild Glory of Dakar 2016 (PHOTOS)

Watch the drivers and riders tearing through Argentina and Bolivia for the world’s most grueling road race.

Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race1_wzbokd — It's the racing world’s most grueling event: the Dakar Rally. More than 500 drivers, in cars and on motorcycles, are tearing through thunderstorms and freezing weather in a two-week odyssey from Buenos Aires, through Bolivia, and back to Rosario, Argentina. Here, a look at the competitors tearing up South America in the 37th annual road rally.

At left, Mini's Mirko Hirvonen of Finland and co-driver Michel Perrin race in Stage 2 between Villa Carlos Paz and Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina, on Jan. 4.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race2_bqsvqy — A drone with a camera follows Ronan Chabot of France as he drives his Toyota through water during the Buenos Aires-Rosario prologue stage in Arrecifes, Argentina, on Jan. 2.
Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race3_vquzkc — Kevin Benavidez of Argentina rides his Honda motorcycle during the Jan. 5 Termas de Rio Hondo-Jujuy third stage in Santiago del Estero province, Argentina.
Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race5_ljepvp — Robby Gordon of the U.S. plows his Gordini through water during the Buenos Aires-Rosario prologue.
Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race6_dtxc3q — Spectators cheer and take selfies as driver Erik Van Loon and co-driver Wouter Rosegaar, both from the Netherlands, whiz by in Stage 3, between Termas de Rio Hondo and Jujuy, Argentina.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race7_vmacip — Santosh Shivashankar Chunchunguppe of India splashes his Suzuki in the prologue.

Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race8_alvlav — Toby Price of Australia rides his KTM motorcycle in Stage 3 in Tucuman province, Argentina.
Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

galleries/2016/01/07/the-wet-and-wild-glory-of-dakar-2016-photos/160106-dakar-race9_oz1e7x — Peugeot’s French driver Sebastien Loeb and co-pilot Daniel Elena tear through Stage 2 between Villa Carlos Paz and Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina. Loeb won the leg ahead of Peugeot’s Stephane Peterhansel and Toyota’s Vladimir Vasilyev of Russia.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty

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