This year, racers in the Dakar Rally are more than halfway through their 8,000-mile journey. They travel via motorcycle, quad bike, car, or truck over extreme terrain in three countries in South America. Competitors and support crews come from more than 50 countries to challenge their mechanical, driving, and orienteering skills. The race kicked off in Lima on Jan. 5 and will wrap up this Sunday with the podium celebrations in Santiago, Chile. -- Lloyd Young
Salvadoran Jorge Aguilar takes part in the sixth stage of Dakar Rally between Arica and Calama, Chile, on Jan. 10. (Felipe Trueba/European Pressphoto Agency)
Mitsubishi driver Francisco Leon, right, of Peru, waves a banner that reads in Spanish "I love you Peru" during the symbolic start of the Peru-Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally in Lima, Peru, on Jan. 5, 2013. The race of over 400 vehicles including cars, bikes, trucks and quads begins Saturday in Lima and finishes in Santiago, Chile on Jan. 20. (Karel Navarro/Associated Press) #
Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev overturns during the third stage of the Dakar Rally in the Nazca desert, about 450 km south of Lima, Peru, on Jan. 7. (Paolo Aguilar/European Pressphoto Agency) #
Argentinian Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue try to escape from a dune as they take part in the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally between Arica and Calama, Chile, on Jan. 10. (Frederic Le Floc'h /Dakar Rally)
Salvadoran Jorge Aguilar takes part in the sixth stage of Dakar Rally between Arica and Calama, Chile, on Jan. 10. (Felipe Trueba/European Pressphoto Agency)
Lucio Alvarez and co-driver Ronnie Graue of team Toyota compete in stage 9 from Tucuman to Cordoba during the 2013 Dakar Rally on Jan. 14 in Tucuman, Argentina. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Peruvian fans take pictures of the podium during the departure ceremony of the fifth South American edition of the Dakar Rally in Lima on Jan. 5. (Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images) #
Mitsubishi driver Francisco Leon, right, of Peru, waves a banner that reads in Spanish "I love you Peru" during the symbolic start of the Peru-Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally in Lima, Peru, on Jan. 5, 2013. The race of over 400 vehicles including cars, bikes, trucks and quads begins Saturday in Lima and finishes in Santiago, Chile on Jan. 20. (Karel Navarro/Associated Press) #
US driver Robby Gordon jumps from the podium in his Hummer during the departure ceremony of the fifth South American edition of the Dakar Rally in Lima on Jan. 5 (Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images) #
France's David Casteu rides his Yamaha during the Stage 2 of the Dakar Rally in Pisco, Peru, on Jan. 6. The rally will take place in Peru, Argentina and Chile from Jan. 5 to 20. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images) #
Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev overturns during the third stage of the Dakar Rally in the Nazca desert, about 450 km south of Lima, Peru, on Jan. 7. (Paolo Aguilar/European Pressphoto Agency) #
Ben Grabham of team HSE KTM Australia competes during the stage from Pisco to Pisco on day two of the 2013 Dakar Rally on Jan. 6 in Pisco, Peru. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) #
A woman jumps as France's Ronan Chabot and co-pilot Gilles Pillot compete with their SMG truck during the 3rd stage of the Dakar Rally from Pisco to Nazca on Jan. 7. (Jacky Naegelen/Reuters) #
