These are the best photos from the first half of this year’s Dakar Rally, the 40th edition of the event, as it winds its way over 5,5000 miles through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Rally fans will be really excited to see these photos.

From not so good first start to the race for DKR Raid Service’s driver Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero and her co-driver Gabriel Moiset Ferrer to motorbikes and quads race who are racing along the beach during the fourth stage of the Rally, all these photos will give you thrills.

Check them out for more information and start to see our world through photos!

Stage one: Lima, Peru to Pisco, Peru

Not a good first start to the race for DKR Raid Service’s driver Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero and her co-driver Gabriel Moiset Ferrer, as they crash their Mitsubishi.
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Spectators watch Mini X-Raid team driver Orlando Terranova and co-driver Bernard Graue tackle a dune.
Photograph: Andres Stapff/Reuters

Stage two: Pisco to Pisco

Duust Rally rider Benjamin Melot on his KTM 450 Rally Replica bike.
Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

X-Raid driver Yazeed Al Rajhi and co-driver Timo Gottschalk in their Mini.
Photograph: Andres Stapff/Reuters

SsangYong driver Oscar Fuertes and co-driver Diego Vallejo take on the dunes in their Tivoli buggy.
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

X-Raid drivers Nani Roma and Alex Haro Bravo of Spain, in their Mini John Cooper Works Rally car.
Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Orlen Team/X-Raid driver Jakub Przygonski and co-driver Tom Colsoul speed through the sand in their Mini.
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Stage three: Pisco to San Juan de Marcona

Marco Bulacia and his co-driver Eugenio Arrieta in their Ford Ranger.
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Slovnaft Rally Team’s Stefan Svitko gets some air on his KTM.
Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

The car driven by the Argentinian, Alicia Reina, and her co-driver, Carlos Pelayo, is ablaze. Thankfully both escaped unhurt.
Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Daming Racing Team rider Armand Monleón on his KTM 450 Rally Replica bike.
Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Stage four: San Juan de Marcona to San Juan de Marcona

Motorbikes and quads race along the beach during the fourth stage of the Rally.
Photograph: Ricardo Mazalan/AP