One of the world's most gruelling motorsport events is currently underway in South America. The route of the 2017 Dakar Rally runs for nearly 9,000km through three countries – Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia – much of it across unmarked desert. Four categories of vehicles (motorbikes, quads, cars and trucks) tackle an incredible variety of terrains – many at high altitude – from deserts to mountain roads and flooded rivers to salt flats.
The rally will end on 14 January in Buenos Aires. Photographers Franck Fife, Dan Istitene and Ricardo Moraes are following the action, taking spectacular photos in very challenging conditions. IBTimes UK shares some of the best images from the early stages of the 2017 Dakar Rally.
2 January 2017: Giniel De Villiers of South Africa and co-pilot Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany drive their Toyota through water on the first stage of the Dakar Rally, between Asuncion in Paraguay and Resistencia in ArgentinaFranck Fife/AFP2 January 2017: Spain's Gerard Farres Guell powers his Yamaha during Stage 1 of the Dakar Rally 2017 between Asuncion and ResistenciaFranck Fife/AFP2 January 2017: Spectators watch the action during the first stage of the rallyFranck Fife/AFP2 January 2017: People watch as competitors pass by during the first stage of the rally between Asuncion and ResistenciaFranck Fife/AFP2 January 2017: Jakub Piatek of Poland rides his KTM bike during the first stage of the rallyRicardo Moraes/Reuters2 January 2017: Daniel Mazzuco of Argentina rides his Can-Am bike through water during the first stage from Asuncion in Paraguay to Resistencia in ArgentinaRicardo Moraes/Reuters2 January 2017: An aerial picture of the Bermejo river, demaracting the Argentine provinces of Formosa (L) and ChacoFranck Fife/AFP3 January 2017: A biker competes during the second stage of the rally between Resistencia and San Miguel de Tucuman in ArgentinaFranck Fife/AFP3 January 2017: Armand Monleon of Spain rides his KTM during the second stage of the rallyRicardo Moraes/Reuters3 January 2017: Sam Sunderland of Great Britain throws water on his face after riding his KTM from Resistencia to San Miguel de Tucuman, ArgentinaRicardo Moraes/Reuters3 January 2017: Toyota pilot Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar cools himself down after Stage 2 of the 2017 Dakar Rally between Resistencia and San Miguel de Tucuman in ArgentinaFranck Fife/AFP4 January 2017: Gerard Farres Guell of Spain rides a KTM bike during stage three of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Miguel de Tucuman and San Salvador de Jujuy in ArgentinaDan Istitene/Getty Images4 January 2017: KTM rider Stefan Svitko of Slovakia competes during Stage 3 of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Miguel de Tucuman and San Salvador de Jujuy in ArgentinaFranck Fife/AFP4 January 2017: Portuguese rider Joaquim Rodriguez powers his Hero Speedbrain during the third stage of the rally, between San Miguel de Tucuman and San Salvador de Jujuy in ArgentinaFranck Fife/AFP4 January 2017: Milan Engel of the Czech Republic rides a 450 Rally Replica KTM bike during stage three of the 2017 Dakar RallyDan Istitene/Getty Images4 January 2017: Conrad Rautenbach of Zimbabwe and Imperial Toyota and co-driver Robert Howie of South Africa change a tyre on their ToyotaDan Istitene/Getty Images4 January 2017: Xavier se Soultrait of France rides his Yamaha bike during the third stage of the Dakar Rally 2017Ricardo Moraes/Reuters5 January 2017: Vincent Crosbie of Botswana rides his KTM bike through the desert somewhere between San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina and Tupiza in BoliviaRicardo Moraes/Reuters5 January 2017: Sylvio Barros of Brazil and co-driver Rafael Capoani of Italy drive their Mini somewhere between Argentina and BoliviaDan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Gregorio Caselani of Brazil rides a CRF450 Rally Honda during stage four of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina and Tupiza in BoliviaDan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Conrad Rautenbach of Zimbabwe drives during Stage 4 of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina and Tupiza in BoliviaFranck Fife/AFP5 January 2017: Carlo Vellutino of Peru rides a KTM bike during the fourth stage of the rallyDan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Peugeot's Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz compete during Stage 4 of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina and Tupiza in BoliviaFranck Fife/AFP5 January 2017: Loic Minaudier of France competes during stage four of the 2017 Dakar Rally between San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina and Tupiza in BoliviaDan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Camelia Liparoti of France rides a Yamaha quad bike during stage four of the 2017 Dakar Rally between Argentina and BoliviaDan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Kevin Echeveste of Argentina tries to fix his 450 Rally Husqvarna bike at an unspecified location in ArgentinaDan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Milan Engel of the Czech Republic falls off his bike during stage 4Dan Istitene/Getty Images5 January 2017: Robert Jr Van Pelt of the Netherlands competes during stage four of the rallyDan Istitene/Getty Images
