One hundred and thirty competitors are racing 10,000 km in the sixth Silk Way Rally.
Passing through Russia, Kazakhstan and China, teams race specially modified vehicles through steppes, winding highway spirals and Chinese sand massifs. The race ends in Beijing July 24.
Kamaz truck team Airat Mardeev and co-driver Aydar Belyaev compete in the Gobi Desert during the 9th special stage of the Silkway Rally.
Mini Sport team driver Yazeed Mohamed al-Rahji and co-driver Timo Gottshalk compete in the Gobi Desert.
A course director scouts the course ahead of the racers.
Florent Gooden / DPPI photo
A flock of sheep move near the race course in Inner Mongolia's Gobi Desert.
Peugeot Sport team driver Cyril Despres and co-driver David Castera compete in the Gobi Desert.
A buggy competes in the Silk Way rally near the Bartogai lake, near Almaty, in Kazakhstan, during stage 7 before entering China.
A Kazakh shepherd waves to Mini team Aidyn Rakhimbayev and co-pilot Anton Nikolaev near Almaty during stage 7.
An aerial view near the course in Inner Mongolia's Gobi Desert.
An aerial view of Inner Mongolia's Gobi Desert near the race course.
A helicopter flies over an oasis in Inner Mongolia's Gobi Desert near the race course.