AP photographer captures speed and breathtaking landscapes at the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia

Associated Press photographer Christophe Ena's images from the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia capture the speed, driving skill and spectacular desert views of one of the world's most breathtaking auto racing events.

South African Henk Lategan is in the lead of the top car class in his Toyota after Thursday's 428-kilometer (266-mile) fifth stage. Friday is a rest day.

There was plenty of action in the first week as defending champion Carlos Sainz and nine-time world rally champion Sebastian Loeb both saw their Dakar hopes ended following crashes.

The Dakar Rally began in 1978 as a contest stretching from the French capital Paris to Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa, across the Sahara Desert, but it hasn't been held in Africa since 2007.

After security concerns forced the 2008 edition to be canceled, the Dakar Rally moved first to South America and then in 2020 to Saudi Arabia.

This year's rally runs nearly 8,000 kilometers (nearly 5,000 miles) across the deserts of Saudi Arabia. It finishes Jan. 17 in Shubaytah in the east of Saudi Arabia.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Rider Ross Branch competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Jerome Martiny of Belgium rides during the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally between Alula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Toyota driver Yazeed Al Rajhi, left, and Ford driver Nasser Al-Attiyah pray at the bivouac area after stage two of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A man takes pictures of Goncalo Gurreiro and co-driver Cadu Sachs as they change a wheel during stage two of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Riders have dinner at the bivouac area after stage two of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Edouard Boulanger compete during the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The car of driver Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin is stopped after a crash during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A rider competes during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Bisha and Al-Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Camels run near the route of the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Al Henakiyah and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Driver Joao Ferreira and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro, in the car at left, compete during stage one of the Dakar Rally with start and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Truck driver Martin Macik, co-drivers David Svanda and Frantisek Tomasek compete during the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A overview of the bivouac camp during the stage one of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Riders prepare prior to the start of stage two, day two, of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Rider Jordan Strachan falls as he competes during stage one of the Dakar Rally with start and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Driver Mathieu Serradori and co-driver Loic Minaudier compete during stage one of the Dakar Rally with start and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A man and his son watch the riders during the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Driver Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz compete during the stage two, day One, of the Dakar Rally with start in Bisha and finish in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Driver Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings compete during the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Al Henakiyah and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Emma Stone just seems more comfortable out of her seat than in it at awards shows.

At the Golden Globes Sunday, the “Bugonia” star held court with a rotating cast of companions, from Kirsten Dunst to Jennifer Lawrence -- not in the main ballroom, but in a much smaller side room with a bar, a tea and coffee station and an ever-replenishing supply of decadent desserts, Nobu sushi, caviar cups and, perhaps most importantly, no television cameras.

Here’s some more of what you didn’t see on the Golden Globes broadcast.

Before the show even started Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo found one another near the bar and chatted for a while, not about plans for an impromptu “Thriller” dance, but about how Jay Penske, whose media empire includes Hollywood trade publications like “The Hollywood Reporter,” “Variety” and “Deadline,” also co-owns the Golden Globes. “Isn’t that crazy,” he said. Conversation then shifted to how he nearly missed his own category last year due to the security backup at the drop off area. He made it in, eventually, but just by a hair and had to take a seat in the aisle.

As the clock ticked down, Glen Powell escorted his mother into the ballroom, taking her arm to navigate the steps Alicia Silverstone just had to sidestep down. They spotted their table off to the side and Powell took a beat: “Want to hit the bar then?”

Silverstone was having her own issues though, and another mom soon came to the rescue: Mila Kunis was on a mission to deliver some Band-Aids to Silverstone, who thanked her profusely.

Elsewhere, Colman Domingo danced his way to his table. Teyana Taylor, flanked by security trying to rush her to her seat, snapped a selfie with a guest. Rose Byrne paused to hug Elle Fanning, while Universal chair Donna Langley spoke to Benicio Del Toro. And Kylie Jenner made her way in at the last minute, without Timothée Chalamet and with only minutes to showtime.

Stone beelined to the side room after the first award, leading her “Bugonia” director Yorgos Lanthimos and costar Alicia Silverstone along with her. Stone and Lanthimos were deep in conversation, with brief interruptions requesting selfies.

Over at the coffee and tea station, Kirsten Dunst was halfway through pouring herself a cup of coffee when she paused and told husband Jesse Plemons “I don’t want this, do you?” Her order instead was cranberry and some sparkling, which Plemons dutifully delivered to her throughout the night. Both were also excited to greet Wagner Moura.

After Stellan Skarsgård’s win, Sean Penn made his way to the “Sentimental Value” table to give Renate Reinsve a big hug, while Megan Everett-Skarsgård, who had just gotten a very public boost from her husband, celebrated with Elle Fanning.

Seth Rogen, meanwhile, followed his first win of the evening with what looked like a very, very dirty martini.

Ariana Grande led a glamorous train to the ladies’ room, telling Jessie Buckley and Reinsve to “hold on to me!” The three made a brief stop to say hi to Tessa Thompson, and pose for a photo, before reaching their destination. In the line for the toilets, Grande sighed “phew we made it,” holding up her voluminous gown as best she could. Still someone soon stepped on a part of it, apologizing profusely. Grande put her at ease immediately, though, insisting, “No, I’m the problem!”

Later in the show, Jennifer Lawrence made her way to the bar area where she hugged Jeremy Allen White before finding Stone, who put down her white wine and took her friend’s face in her hands. They fluffed their hair when a photographer asked for a photo before they decided to take their own selfie as well.

Dunst spotted Lawrence nearby too, telling “The Testament of Ann Lee” filmmaker Mona Fastvold and Zoë Kravitz that she just wanted to say hi. Plemons soon arrived with three drinks to dole out. One was not for Lawrence, who joined the line to order her own drink.

In another part of the room, Gayle King, who snacked on a small bite of dessert, appeared to have procured a to-go box for the sushi and soon was next to the “KPop Demon Hunter” women picking some choice pieces.

Patrick Schwarzenegger took a good long look at the dessert table, before moving on, empty-handed to the sushi. No protein shakes here for the “White Lotus” star.

Back inside the ballroom, the commercial breaks are a race to socialize. Everywhere you looked, there were interesting chats happening: Dwayne Johnson and Steven Spielberg, Macauly Culkin and Parker Posey, Maya Rudolph and Selena Gomez, Johnson and Timothée Chalamet and Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke, to name a few.

Others stayed put in their seats as the night went on. Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Adam Sandler seemed content to hang at their very starry table. (Why get up when people can come to you instead?). Jessie Buckley let her “Hamnet” son, a tired-looking, Jacobi Jupe sit on her lap for a bit. And Eva Victor took a moment to reapply their lipstick before their category was up.

Were Marty Supreme (Chalamet) and The Smashing Machine (Johnson) talking about greatness? Was Sean Penn smoking inside the ballroom? What did Britt Lower whisper to Grande? And what did Grande then write on a napkin and pass to Lower? Why was Ethan Hawke’s wife Ryan Hawke carrying a tote bag that said “Snoop’s Survival Kit” and what was in it? And what did Stone say to the three Beverly Hills Police officers that made them laugh so much?

For more coverage of the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/golden-globe-awards

Benicio del Toro arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Audrey Nuna arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Colman Domingo arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Alicia Silverstone arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Kirsten Dunst, left, and Jesse Plemons arrive at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Ariana Grande arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jennifer Garner arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Emma Stone arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)