The 15-day Dakar Rally is one of the most grueling races in the world, with motorcycles, cars and trucks covering more than 5,000 miles through the backdrop of breathtaking desert and mountain landscapes in Peru, Argentina and Chile. Just a third of the way through, its set to finish in the city of Santiago on January 20th.
<a href="http://www.foxnews.1eye.us/leisure/slideshow/2013/01/04/wounded-soldiers-set-for-5500-mile-off-road-rally/#slide=1"><b>Photos: Wounded warriors set for Dakar Rally</b></a>
Giniel de Villiers of South Africa and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany crest a dune near Pisco, Peru.
A TV helicopter chases Joan Barreda Bort of Spain on his Husqvarna motorcycle.
KTM rider Riaan Van Niekerk of South Africa falls while riding on fesh-fesh during the 5th stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally from Arequipa, Peru, to Arica, Chile.
Carlos Sainz of Spain and co-driver Timo Gottschalk of Germany race on a beach between Nazca and Arequipa, Peru.
Driver Robby Gordon of the U.S., right, looks at his overturned Hummer at the bottom of a dune in Peru.
Eduard Nikolaev, Sergey Savostin and Vladimir Rybakov of Russia race their Kamaz truck on a beach in Peru in support of their team's efforts.
Stephane Peterhanzel and Jean Paul Cottret, both of France, right, overtakes Yamaha rider Gustavo Querales Malave of Venezuela, left, in the sands of Peru.
Driver Guerlain Chicherit, right, and co-driver Jean-Pierre, both from France, check their vehicle.
Giniel de Villiers of South Africa and Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany, center, race their Toyota during the 5th stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally from Arequipa, Peru, to Arica, Chile.