Photos: Off-road racers compete in the grueling Dakar Rally

Sebastien Loeb passed another major Dakar Rally test with the Bahrain Raid Xtreme as teammates Nani Roma and Orlando Terranova maintained their momentum on today’s tough third stage. After recording a maiden stage victory for BRX 24 hours earlier, Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin in one of the three Prodrive Hunters lost a significant amount of time with drivetrain problems for most of the 255km special.

Peugeot's driver French Cyril Desprez and co-driver South African co-driver Perry Taye in action.

Bahrain Raid Xtreme's Nani Roma and co-driver Alex Haro Bravo in action during stage 3.

US biker Andrew Short powers his Yamaha during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally 2022 between the Saudi areas of Al-Artawiya and Al-Qaysumah.

Argentinian driver Orlando Terranova and co-driver Daniel Oliveras Carreras of Spain compete during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally 2022 between the Saudi areas of Al-Artawiya and Al-Qaysumah.

Md Rallye Sport's co-driver Ferran Marco Alcayna during stage 3.

De Rooy Iveco's Martin Van Den Brink and co-drivers Peter Willemsen and Bernard Der Kinderen in action.

Aerial picture shows a general view of the bivouac in Al Qaysumah.

US biker Ricky Brabec powers his Honda during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally 2022 between the Saudi areas of Al-Artawiya and Al-Qaysumah.

Md Rallye Sport's Carlos Checa during stage 3.

Abu Dhabi Racing's Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz in action.

Audi's electric French driver Stephane Peterhansel and his co-driver Edouard Boulanger of France compete during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally 2022.

Toyota's driver Yazeed Al Rajhi of Saudi Arabia and co-driver Britain's Michael Orr compete during Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally 2022.

Sherco Factory's Rui Goncalves in action.