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The Wet and Wild Glory of Dakar 2016 (PHOTOS)

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Robby Gordon of the U.S. plows his Gordini through water during the Buenos Aires-Rosario prologue.

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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.

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Santosh Shivashankar Chunchunguppe of India splashes his Suzuki in the prologue.

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Toby Price of Australia rides his KTM motorcycle in Stage 3 in Tucuman province, Argentina.

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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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