Dakar rally race pushes drivers to the edge in Peru

Thomas Levinson

featured

Jan 15, 2019

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Peugeot's British driver Harry Hunt and Dutch co-driver Wouter Rosegarr compete during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2019 between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on January 7, 2019.

Peugeot’s British driver Harry Hunt and Dutch co-driver Wouter Rosegarr drive toward fans during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2019 between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on Jan. 7, 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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Motorbike riders are followed by a TV helicopter at the start of Stage Five of the 2019 Dakar Rally on Los Palos beach in Peru.

A TV helicopter follows motorbike riders at the start of Stage 5 of the 2019 Dakar Rally on Los Palos beach in Peru. Getty Images

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Fans watch the Borgward Rally Team in the desert during Stage Two of the 2019 Dakar Rally between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona on January 7, 2019 in Pisco, Peru.

Fans watch the Borgward Rally Team in the desert during Stage 2 of the 2019 Dakar Rally between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona on Jan. 7, 2019, in Pisco, Peru. Getty Images

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Tatra's truck Driver Ales Loprais and mechanic Petr Pokora sleep in the bivouac in Tacna after the Stage the Stage 4 of the Dakar 2019 between Arequipa and Tacna, Peru, on January 11, 2019.

Tatra’s truck driver Ales Loprais and mechanic Petr Pokora sleep in the bivouac in Tacna after Stage 4 of the Dakar 2019 between Arequipa and Tacna, Peru, on Jan. 11, 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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Sjors Van Hertum's Mark Tielemans of The Netherlands powers through the sand during Stage Six of the Dakar Rally in Peru.

Sjors Van Hertum’s Mark Tielemans of the Netherlands powers through the sand during Stage 6 of the Dakar Rally in Peru. Getty Images

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Brazilian biker Marcos Colvero lies on the sand after crashing during Stage 3 of the Dakar 2019 between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa, Peru, on Jan. 9, 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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Mini's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz of Spain gestures next to his car after stopping due to a crash during Stage 3 of the Dakar 2019.

Mini’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz of Spain stands next to his car after crashing during Stage 3 of the Dakar 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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Toyota Gazoo Racing car driven by Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar and Matthieu Baumel of France streaks past fans during Stage One of the 2019 Dakar Rally.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing car driven by Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar and Matthieu Baumel of France streaks past fans during Stage 1 of the 2019 Dakar Rally. Getty Images

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Peruvian co-driver Lucas Barron, 25, poses for a picture at a mechanics workshop in Lima, Peru. Barron will be the first person with Down syndrome to take part in the arduous race. AFP/Getty Images

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Slovak KTM rider Stefan Svitko competes during Stage 6 of the Dakar 2019

Slovak KTM rider Stefan Svitko is tracked by a helicopter during the Dakar Rally in Peru. AFP/Getty Images

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Mechanics work on team cars in the desert twilight during Stage One of the 2019 Dakar Rally between Lima and Pisco, Peru on January 7, 2019.

Mechanics work on team cars in the desert twilight during Stage 1 of the 2019 Dakar Rally between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on Jan. 7, 2019. Getty Images

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Bolivia’s Daniel Nosiglia Jager is surrounded by desert in Arequipa and San Juan de Marcona, Peru. AFP/Getty Images

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After traveling for three weeks to reach the start of the Dakar 2019 race in Peru, Mongolian driver Byambatsogt Udiikhu (R) and co-driver and brother Byambadelger Udiikhuu pose on the eve a technical check-up in Lima, on January 3, 2019.

After traveling for three weeks to reach the start of the Dakar 2019 race in Peru, Mongolian driver Byambatsogt Udiikhu (right) and co-driver and brother Byambadelger Udiikhuu pose on the eve of a technical check-up in Lima on Jan. 3, 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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ussia's Kamaz driver Airat Mardeev, co-driver Akhmet Galiautdinov and Dmitry Svistunov compete during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2019 between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on January 7, 2019.

Russia’s Kamaz driver Airat Mardeev, co-driver Akhmet Galiautdinov and Dmitry Svistunov gun their truck over dunes during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2019 between Lima and Pisco, Peru, on Jan. 7, 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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Peugeot's French driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena compete during the Stage 2 of the Dakar 2019 between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona, Peru, on January 8, 2019.

Peugeot’s French driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena fly down sand dunes during Stage 2 of the Dakar 2019 between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona, Peru, on Jan. 8, 2019. AFP/Getty Images

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KTM Factory's Sam Sunderland of Great Britain rides atop sand dunes between Arequipa and San Juan de Marcona.

KTM Factory’s Sam Sunderland of Great Britain rides the crest of sand dunes between Arequipa and San Juan de Marcona. Getty Images

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Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar gets ready to start on the sand prior to Stage Five of the 2019 Dakar Rally

Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar gets ready to start on the sand prior to Stage 5 of the 2019 Dakar Rally on Jan. 11, 2019, on Los Palos beach near Arequipa, Peru. Getty Images

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Carlos Sainz of Spain and Lucas Cruz of Spain compete in the desert on the sand during Stage Six of the 2019 Dakar Rally.

The X-Raid Mini Jcw Team Mini John Cooper Works car driven by Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz of Spain competes in the desert during Stage 6 of the 2019 Dakar Rally. Getty Images

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General Financing Team Pitlane car driven by Benediktas Vanagas of Lithuania and Sebastian Rozwadowski of Poland drive through the rocky Peruvian terrain on January 10, 2019.

The General Financing Team Pitlane car driven by Benediktas Vanagas of Lithuania and Sebastian Rozwadowski of Poland drives through the rocky Peruvian terrain on Jan. 10, 2019. Getty Images

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Bikers are nearly lost in the expanse of sand dunes during Stage 5 of the Dakar Rally in Peru.

Bikers are nearly lost in the sand dunes during Stage 5 of the Dakar Rally in Peru. AFP/Getty Images

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