The 2014 Dakar Rally entered stage 7 after the halfway break. Some racers continued to pad their lead, while others struggled with the long 500 km route that looped from Salta back into Salta.

Below is a great recap video from Dakar of the action at Stage 7.

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Now the racers head on to the Stage 8 route, which the official Dakar.com website describes the state 8 as such:
The Salar de Uyuni is quite simply the biggest salt flat in the world! And the motorcyclists will be able to realize this, since they will have to go right round this gigantic stretch during the eighth stage of the rally. The route will be marked out around and across the salt flat, a marvel stretching over more than 400 kilometers, and will also pass by several islands which make this site so exceptional. The stature of the Tunupa Volcano (5,300m in altitude) will be a permanent feature on the landscape. An amazing daydream vision between heaven and earth on a white backdrop may be apparent, weather permitting!

Today the competitors will cross the Andes Cordillera, to begin the Chilean part of the rally. A special transition stage has been marked out there for the last day that cars will progress without overtaking motorcycles and quad bikes. The timed section of the day will be accessible to skilled drivers who are at ease on fast tracks in a closed environment. Drivers are advised to pay attention to their position from the outset to limit the number of overtaking maneuvers, even though the strict standards regarding the use of the Sentinel system will be carefully monitored at the end of the day.

Be sure to check out more 2014 Dakar Rally Updates here on Off-Road.com.