Dubbed the most dangerous motorsport endurance race in the world, the Dakar Rally has already claimed the lives of three victims.
Spanning a course of 5,500 miles, the race over mountains and across deserts, often takes place in stifling temperatures.
But amid the gruelling contest held in the heat of the desert a photographer has documented rare moments of calm and beauty as the race ground comes to a halt for a rest day and the engine of a KTM LC4 660R is turned off.
The marathon motor rally was originally staged between Paris and Dakar in Senegal, but was moved to South America - Argentina and Chile - in 2009 because of threats of terrorism.
Photo credit: EPA
Photo credit: Associated Press
Photo credit: EPA
Photo credit: Associated Press
Photo credit: Getty Images